Some of the major amendments introduced by military rulers over the years:

• Field Marshal Ayub Khan first altered the act in 1967 after he faced criticism for having signed the Tashkent accord. He amended Section 2(1)(D) of PAA and empowered military courts to conduct court martial of civilians; earlier only military men could be tried under the section.

• Under this amendment, a person who comments on military affairs of the Pakistan army can be tried under the army

act even in the absence of martial law in the country.

During Gen Ziaul Haq’s tenure, this amendment was used to imprison poet Ahmed Faraz.

• Gen Zia further changed section 2(1)(D) of PAA to give military courts the right to award flogging as a punishment.

• Gen Zia, in 1985, through a notification, gave the COAS the power to allow or to refuse to provide the trial proceedings documents of a military court to the accused.

• Gen (retired) Pervez Musharraf, through a presidential ordinance, brought the highest number of people under the purview of the army act by enlarging the scope of section 2(1)(D) and added nine offences that could be tried by the army.