With a view to guaranteeing human rights to every citizen of Pakistan by cutting short the powers of intelligence agencies in case of preventive detention to a reasonable limit and ensuring the right of fair trial for every person detained.
Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) has moved a Private Bill titled 'Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2007 in the National Assembly' proposes amendment to Articles 9 & 10 of the Constitution.
Stating this, MMA Central leader and Deputy Secretary General Jamaat-e-Islami, Dr Farid Ahmad Piracha, told newsmen at a news conference, here on Thursday that the Bill has been moved under Rule 118 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007.
As many as 35 legislators of MMA have signed the bill and the MMA Supreme Council has fully supported the amendment. Giving background of this move, Piracha stated that forced disappearance through intelligence agencies has taken form of state-terrorism, as hundreds of Pakistanis are allegedly kept in the custody of State Agencies without any opportunity of being heard at any judicial forum, while their families never know anything about their loved ones.
He was of the view that intelligence agencies and law-enforcement agencies have been misusing the constitutional provisions related to preventive detention in the Constitution of Pakistan, which are undoubtedly meant for exceptional circumstances.
Through the Bill, Farid Piracha said it has been proposed to reinstate the maximum duration of one-month for preventive detention without being heard, The Bill also seeks the detained person to be informed of the charges against him as soon as possible, but not later than one week. Third Constitutional Amendment made in 1975 had increased the detention period to three months, he added.
He also said the Bill binds the detaining authority to establish contact between the detainee and his family within one week after his detention. The Bill also proposes that a Review Board consisting of senior judges of superior judiciary be formed to ensure complete transparency and impartiality. In the Bill, it has also been proposed that the authority making order of preventive detention illegally shall also be tried.
Answering a question, Piracha said the MMA would seek co-operation of the ruling party legislators as well as MNAs of the opposition parties, including PPPP to get the Constitutional (Amendment) Bill approved.
To another query, he claimed that one of the main reasons behind filing reference against Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was that he was hearing cases of missing persons, saying the MMA legislators have fulfilled their obligation by moving this bill.
Criticising General Pervez Musharraf, he stated that he had himself admitted in his book 'In the Line of Fire' that 750 people were handed over to the US. He maintained that present government was committing blunders, which have created various complicated issues.
Answering another question with regard to 16 MPO, he stated that the government is grossly misusing this provision of law against political activists and MMA will propose amendment in this law.
He also said that recently concluded road caravan of MMA from Rawalpindi to Lahore was of great success, as we received warm reception from public. He also praised PTI Chairman Imran Khan for waging struggle against terrorists who caused bloodshed in Karachi.
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