The Official Secrets (Amendment) Bill 2023 was passed by the Parliament in its final days. It initially contained provisions allowing intelligence agencies to search any person or place without a warrant, though some of the most controversial clauses were later modified following intense criticism from both treasury and opposition benches.
1262
Who was appointed as the Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan in August 2022 under the PDM government?
Jameel Ahmad was appointed as the Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) for a five-year term on August 19, 2022. His appointment came at a time when the country was facing severe economic challenges, including high inflation and a balance of payments crisis.
1263
Which major data-gathering exercise was completed in 2023, marking Pakistan's first-ever digital survey of its kind?
The 7th Population and Housing Census, conducted in early 2023, was Pakistan's first digital census. The results, approved by the Council of Common Interests (CCI) in August 2023, showed the population at 241.49 million and became the basis for new delimitation of constituencies.
1264
On which date did Pakistan officially exit the FATF 'Grey List' after four years, during the PDM tenure?
Pakistan was removed from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) 'increased monitoring' list (Grey List) on October 21, 2022. This followed years of legislative and administrative reforms to combat money laundering and terror financing, which the PDM government finalized during its initial months.
1265
In June 2023, the PDM government amended the Elections Act to limit the disqualification period of lawmakers to how many years?
The amendment to the Elections Act 2017 reduced the disqualification period for lawmakers under Article 62(1)(f) to a maximum of five years. This was widely seen as a move to clear the way for PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif and IPP leader Jahangir Tareen to participate in future elections.
1266
The 'Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act 2023' was passed by the PDM government to regulate which power of the Chief Justice?
This Act aimed to limit the discretionary powers of the Chief Justice of Pakistan regarding the formation of benches and the initiation of suo motu proceedings. It proposed that such decisions be made by a committee of three senior judges, a move that sparked a significant legal debate over judicial independence.
1267
Who was appointed as the 17th Chief of Army Staff (COAS) by the PDM government in November 2022?
General Asim Munir was appointed as the Chief of Army Staff on November 24, 2022, succeeding General Qamar Javed Bajwa. The appointment was made by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif after a period of significant political speculation and was seen as a key step in stabilizing the military leadership.
1268
What was the name of the diplomatic conference co-hosted by Pakistan and the UN in Geneva in January 2023?
In January 2023, Pakistan and the United Nations co-hosted the International Conference on Climate Resilient Pakistan in Geneva. The conference was highly successful for the PDM government, as international donors pledged over $9 billion to help the country recover from the devastating 2022 floods.
1269
Which major law regarding the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) was amended by the PDM government in 2022?
The PDM government introduced significant amendments to the NAB Ordinance in June 2022, which included reducing the term of the NAB Chairman and excluding several types of financial decisions from the bureau's jurisdiction. These amendments were later challenged in the Supreme Court by Imran Khan.
1270
The PDM government passed the 'Contempt of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) Bill 2023' to achieve what purpose?
In May 2023, the National Assembly passed the Contempt of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) Bill, which gave the Parliament the authority to punish any person or institution for contempt of the house or its committees. This was seen as a move to assert parliamentary supremacy over other institutions.
