ISLAMABAD – Although the Pakistani media is abuzz with reports that the government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is all set to give extension to Lieutenant General Nadeem Anjum, director general of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Defence Minister Khawaja Asif says he is completely unaware of any such development.
Speaking on a live TV show this week, Khawaja Asif said the government’s tenure would end in a few days and “if something has to happen, it will happen in these days”.
Lt-Gen Nadeem Anjum was appointed head of Pakistan’s premier intelligence agency in November 2021 and his tenure is going to end in September this year.
Khawaja Asif’s remarks coincide with a major development in the Senate of Pakistan where a bill proposing key amendments to the Army Act 1953 was passed on Thursday. The bill titled the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Act 2023 was moved by Khawaja Asif himself.
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Among other amendments, the bill proposed addition of Section 26-B, which states that those who have “remained posted, employed, seconded, tasked or otherwise attached on sensitive duties” are forbidden from taking part in “political activity of any kind, for a period of five years from the date of his retirement, release, resignation, discharge, removal or dismissal from the service”.
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The bill also proposed addition of Section 26-A (unauthorised disclosure) to the act under which “anyone who discloses or causes to be disclosed any information, acquired in official capacity, which is or may be prejudicial to the security and interest of Pakistan or the armed forces of Pakistan, shall be […] punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years”.