‘PPP not taken into confidence on Army Act amendment bill’

Islamabad: Minister of State Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Faisal Karim Kundi said on Thursday that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) was not taken into confidence on Army Act amendment bill by the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N).

The PPP Information Secretary and State Minister Faisal Karim Kundi said that Raza Rabbani walked out of the parliament’s session in protest against the Army Act amendment bill.

He said that PML-N introduced the bill to the parliament without taking PPP into confidence.

Kundi said that PPP is not in favour of giving additional powers to the caretaker set-up equivalent to an elected government. “Caretaker set-up has only one responsibility to conduct elections.”

He confirmed that PPP and PML-N committees have shared five names each for the caretaker prime minister (PM). “Caretaker PM will be appointed after consultations with the coalition parties.”

Earlier in the day, the Senate passed bill proposing amendments to the Pakistan Army Act 1952.

The bill was moved by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and was rushed through without being referred to a standing committee.

The bill includes a section regarding punishment for defaming army to two years and a fine.