ISLAMABAD, 9 April, 2021 (TON): A Bill has been approved by Pakistan’s National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior, that would punish those intentionally criticize the Armed forces of the country.

The committee has approved the Bill to amend the Pakistan Penal Code and Code of Criminal Procedure 1898, sanctioning punishment to those who ridicule armed forces through intended criticism.

According to the Bill, “anyone who shall be guilty of said offence could face up to two years imprisonment or fine that may extend to Rs 500,000 or both".

Ruling Party’s Amjad Ali Khan of the PTI has introduced the Bill “Criminal Law Amendment Bill 2020.”

However, the bill got approval despite opposition from the political groups.

The Bill proposes amendment to Section 500 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), which currently states "whosoever defames another shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or both".

The amendment says, "Punishment for international ridiculing of the armed forces etc. Whosoever intentionally ridicules brings into disrepute or defames the armed forces of Pakistan or a member thereof, shall be guilty of an offence punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or fine which may extend to five hundred thousand rupees, or both".

Nevertheless, opposition lawmakers from Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) opposed the proposed amendment, stating that there was no need to introduce the Bill, as it is already covered under Article 19 of the Constitution.