Failure of Pakistan’s democratic processes has once again come to the fore as President Arif Alvi’s recent statement sheds light on the intricate power dynamics between the civilian leadership and the military establishment. The president’s revelation that he did not sign the Official Secrets (Amendment) Bill and the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill, which subsequently came into force, raises concerns about the extent of civilian authority in the country.

Pakistan President Arif Alvi took to the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, to express his disagreement with the two Bills and to assert that he did not sign them. His message reads, “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 went on to explain that he had instructed his staff to return the bills unsigned within the stipulated time to render them ineffective. He further revealed that he had confirmed multiple times with his staff whether the bills had been returned, and he was assured that they had.

However, it was subsequently discovered that the President’s instructions were not followed, and his staff had deliberately not returned the bill. The consequences of this unconstitutional act has now led to the bills taking effect. Under Pakistan’s constitution, if a bill is not returned within 10 days, it is considered passed, leaving room for concern regarding the adequacy of checks and balances within the legislative process.

What are Official Secrets (Amendment) And Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bills?

Under the Official Secret (Amendment) Bill 2023, the definitions of military instalments has been widened and the digital and modern means of communications have been brought under the ambit of law. This would eventually bring bloggers and bloggers under the ambit of law. The definition of “documents” has also been widened to include written, unwritten, electronic, digital and any other instrument related to military procurements and capabilities. Similarly, the definition of “enemy” has also been introduced, according to which- “Any person who is directly or indirectly, intentionally or unintentionally working for or engaged with a foreign power, foreign agent, non-state actor, organisation, entity, association or group guilty of a particular act… prejudicial to the safety and interest of Pakistan.”

Under the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Act 2023, more power has been accorded to the Army Chief while there are restrictions put on the ex-servicemen. The bill introduces Section 26-B, which forbids any person subject to Army act from engaging in any political activity for two years. Similarly, those who have been posted on the sensitive posts and locations are barred to take part in any political activity for five years from the date of his retirement, resignation, discharge or removal. Defying which could lead a person to a rigorous imprisonment of up to two years.

A clause introduced in Section 176-C gives power to the Amy chief to confer any oh his power to any officer subordinate to him. Under Section 176-E, it is provisioned that the laws under the act “shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent contained in any other law, rules or regulations for the time being in force”, adding that any such inconsistent law shall, “to the extent of any inconsistency, cease to have effect”.

Pakistan, A Facade of Democracy

This recent episode is indicative of a broader issue in Pakistan’s political landscape, where the military establishment is the de facto ruler having full control and authority, while the civilian government is just a puppet in the hands of military. The president’s claim of being unable to exercise his prerogatives, despite holding the highest office in the country, underscores the longstanding military’s influence over the civilian leadership.

The Bills in question, which were first approved by the National Assembly and later passed by the Senate, have raised eyebrows for their controversial clauses. After criticism, some contentious provisions were removed, and the Bills were ultimately approved by the Senate before being sent to the president for his signature.

The subsequent turn of events, including the bills coming into force despite the president’s disagreement, points to deeper concerns about the degree of autonomy enjoyed by the civilian leadership in matters of policy and governance. The incident also carries implications for the transparency and accountability of Pakistan’s democratic institutions.

As this latest incident unfolds, critics argue that Pakistan’s democracy remains constrained by the military’s influence, casting doubts on the true extent of civilian governance and decision-making within the country. The situation has been further complicated by the arrest of former Foreign Minister Mahmood Qureshi, which has ignited discussions about the broader political landscape and the role of various stakeholders in shaping the nation’s trajectory.

A disturbing incident of bullying and physical assault involving a group of youngsters has sent shockwaves through the community of Zelzate, a Flemish region in Belgium. The incident, which was captured on video, has ignited conversations about intolerance and safety within the community. In the video, a young Belgian boy is seen being humiliated and physically assaulted by a group of individuals. The group, suspected to be of migrant origin, reportedly demanded that the boy to kiss their feet. Following his compliance, the group subjected him to physical assault, leaving him visibly distressed.

As of now, the identities of the individuals involved in the incident have not been revealed by the police. The video, which was circulated on social media, caught the attention of various stakeholders, including the president of Vlaams Belang, a Flemish far-right populist party. He labeled the video “disgusting” and suggested that the gang members might have migrant backgrounds.

Increasing Similar Incidents

In the aftermath of the incident, another video surfaced showing a girl being subjected to physical aggression in close proximity to the earlier incident. The girl’s relative expressed that now she fears leaving her house after the traumatizing incident.

However, local law enforcement is actively investigating the matter, attempting to ascertain whether both incidents were perpetrated by the same group of individuals. Accordingly, Police have identified the perpetrators as residents of Zelzate and are committed to swiftly apprehending them.

To aid their investigation, the acting mayor of Zelzate, Luc Van Waesberghe, issued a temporary order allowing the police to check the identification of children aged 10 to 18. This measure is intended to expedite the process of identifying those involved and ensuring the safety of the community. The temporary order grants the police the legal authority to conduct identification checks without explicit reasons until August 22.

Furthermore, Mayor Luc Van Waesberghe, representing the social democratic political party Vooruit, voiced condemnation for the incidents that have come to light through social media. “We strongly condemn every incident that has been shown on social media,” the mayor stated, reflecting the community’s shared concern over the incidents.

ISLAMABAD : A trial court has ordered the remand of Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Ali Wazir into three-day custody, directing the police to present them before the ATC on August 24. The police are seeking to conduct a photogrammetric and voice matching test for the human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari Hazir. Pashtun activists Ali Wazir and Imaan Zainab Mazari find themselves captive under the custody of the Pakistan Army; a result of their participation in the protest in Islamabad.

On 18 August, an immense rally took shape, drawing thousands of Pashtuns and Balochs to the heart of Islamabad, challenging the very foundations of the Pakistan “establishment”. The rally, a resounding statement against the Pakistan “establishment” had  rebuked the Pakistan Army for committing murders, extrajudicial abductions and rapes of Pashtuns across Pashtunistan. The rally was spearheaded by prominent figures of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement – the founder Manzoor Ahmad Pashteen, co-founder Ali Wazir, a former member of the National Assembly of Pakistan, and the fervent human rights activist and lawyer  Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir , daughter of Shireen Mazari former minister in Imran Khan’s government.

In a poignant post on Twitter, Shireen Mazari lamented , “Taking away our security cameras and her laptop and cell. We asked who they had come for and they just dragged Imaan out. They marched all over the house. My daughter was in her night clothes and said let me change but they just dragged her away. Of course no warrants or any legal procedure. State fascism. Remember we are only 2 women living in the house. This is an abduction”.

The Islamabad capital police have stated that Ali Wazir and Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir were sought for investigation, charged with offenses including interference in state affairs, organizing a sit-in, and resisting authority.

But the rally was not just a display of unity; it was a seismic tremor that shook the corridors of power. The trio, Ali Wazir,  Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir  and Manzoor Pashteen dared the unthinkable – challenging the seemingly untouchable Pakistan Army. Imaan Mazari  demanded  court martial proceedings for all the generals of the Pakistan Army if they have committed crimes against the people. In that charged atmosphere, Imaan Mazari’s resounding words echoed, “Yeh jo dehshat gardi hai . . .Iske piche wardi hai ” (This slogan pertains directly to Pakistan Army being the biggest terrorist organization). She further said that this powerful slogan should be shouted such that it echoes the GHQ, the headquarter of the Pakistan Army. She also reaffirmed their resolve not to back down in the face of a war driven by economic interests, shedding light on the presence of terrorists concealed in air-conditioned rooms.

Simultaneously, Ali Wazir, fresh out of his term as a parliament member, had merely voiced his criticism of Pakistan’s  policies towards the Pashtuns and its pro-terrorist stance within the region. This marks a significant juncture, as the PTM confronts the Pakistan Army head-on, demanding Azadi (freedom)  of the Pashtuns from the Punjabi Pakistan regime for the very first time.

According to a First Information Report (FIR) circulating on social media, Ali Wazir and Imaan  Mazari are among numerous individuals charged under different sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) for participating in a Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) rally that aimed to “interfere in state affairs” on a Friday.

Even though things in Pakistan are chaotic, there haven’t been any sanctions or restrictions on global platforms for the human rights violations and suppression of minorities’ voices as the global media can’t talk about the atrocities the Pakistan Army does in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.