Karachi: Pakistani President Arif Alvi has refused to sign into law two bills that will give authorities more power to prosecute people for acts against the state and military.
The bills have already been passed by both houses of Pakistan’s Parliament, reported Reuters.
President Alvi is a member of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, which opposes the coalition government that passed the two bills.
“As God is my witness, I did not sign Official Secrets Amendment Bill 2023 & Pakistan Army Amendment Bill 2023 as I disagreed with these laws,” Alvi wrote on social media platform X.
He stated that he had asked his staff to return the bills unsigned to the legislature within the stipulated time to make them ineffective.
“However I have found out today that my staff undermined my will and command,” he added, hoping that “As Allah knows all, He will forgive IA. But I ask forgiveness from those who will be affected.”
The Ministry of Law and Justice said the President’s decision was unconstitutional and of grave concern.
“The President has two options: either give assent, or refer the matter to the Parliament with specific observations,” the ministry said in a statement, adding that the president had not fulfilled either option.
“Such a course of action is against the letter and spirit of the constitution,” the ministry said.
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