An amendment proposed by the member of the National Assembly, who is a member of the ruling PTI, in the  Pakistan Penal Code was a private member bill and not government proposed, clarified the Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari.

Mazari was referring to the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2020 introduced in the House by Amjad Ali Khan.

The amendment proposed anyone who was found engaged in intentionally ridiculing and defaming the Armed Forces of Pakistan or any of its members be punished.

In a recent tweet, Mazari posted “Reporters covering parliament really need to know the difference between private member bills and govt bills so wrong headlines are not given in newspapers.” She added that Amjad Ali Khan’s bill to amend the PPC is a private member bill – let me categorically state this.

The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2020 proposed amendments in the Pakistan Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure, proposing that those guilty of ridiculing or defaming the Armed Forces of Pakistan or any of its member be punished with imprisonment for a term up to two years or fined for up to Rs500,000.