Senate Standing Committee on Interior has denied giving final nod for amendment to Anti-Terrorism Act saying that several clauses of Anti-Terrorism Amendment Act are in utter violation of basic human rights. "The Senate Panel cannot give its final nod on the bill with its eyes closed", said Senator Talhe Mehmood, Chairman Senate Standing committee on Interior on Saturday.
Talha Mehmood was chairing a meeting of the Senate Panel held in Parliament House. The Panel discussed seven point agenda and Secretary Interior Khawja Siddiq Akbar, Director General Passports Wajid Bokhari and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad Bani Amin Khan attended the meeting to respond the questions of the Parliamentarians. Secretary Interior informed the Committee that draft of the amendment to Anti-Terrorism Act is lying with the Parliamentary Committee and Parliament would give its approval. Taking up the issue of Arms Licenses in provinces the Senate Panel expressed concern over government decision and termed its policy as poor.
Secretary Interior informed the Committee that after the passage of 18th amendment the Federal Government had imposed ban on issuing of arms licenses from July 1, as now the authority to issue arms license is with the provinces we would only issue licenses for Islamabad. However Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan have asked us that licenses of prohibited bore should be issued by the federal government, while Punjab itself wants to issue licenses of prohibited bores, Secretary added.
He said that the remaining provinces would have to get a resolution passed from their respective assemblies if they want center to issue licenses for prohibited bores. He said that the issue would be settled after approval of summary from Prime Minister and the Council of Common Interest.
The Standing committee directed the Secretary Interior to brief the Parliamentary Panel about the policy on issuance of arms licenses in three-day time. The standing committee took serious note of rampant increase in activities of land grabbers in the Capital and expressed concern over involvement of influential persons in the activities. During the meeting Senator Talha Mehmood directed stern action against land mafia. "Police is party to increasing land mafia activities and car thefts".
He said that young officers should be appointed as SHOs in police stations and these appointments should be made on merit. Committee directed the IGP Islamabad to submit the report of investigation on the issue of forcefully trying to take possession of Plot owned by Malik Niaz of sector I-10/3, dated 9-04-2010, by Dr Imran Munir, who was in protective custody of Islamabad Police in PIMS Hospital on the orders of Supreme court of Pakistan, along with Muhammad Din and few Police officers and officials of ICT Police. The Committee stated that it has found the involvement of Bani Amin Khan IGP (the then DIG Operations) in the issue.
The Committee also took note of expunging two Sections like 406 & 365 from the FIR to facilitate Muhammad Din, the accused, for want of bail. The IGP Islamabad assured the committee that a detailed investigation report on this issue would be presented before the committee.
SSP Operations Rawalpindi Police Yasin Farooq admitted before the committee that the rate of crime in Rawalpindi witnesses an increase in 2011, as compared to 2010. He told the committee that in the first six months of the current year 181 incidents of murder, 45 of armed robbery, 304 of theft, 484 of car theft, 11 of kidnapping for ransom and 23 rape cases were registered. He further told that 68 search operations with the army were conducted in which 2600 homes were searched, 5193 people were scrutinised and action was taken against 311.
The committee also sought a complete report on car thief Din Hassan from the Punjab government and in this regard Chief Secretary and home secretary Punjab have been summoned in the next meeting. Earlier DG Passport told the committee that no MP has two passports. Only those people who have dual nationality can keep two passports. Interior Minister has directed for referring the cases to FIA of those who have made two passports illegally.
Talking to media after the meeting Chairman Talha Mehmood said that charges levelled against IG Islamabad for occupying a factory and a warehouse is a serious matter and for this a subcommittee has been constituted, which would investigate the matter. He said that dubbing of Raiwand Tablighi Markaz as a den of extremism was an irresponsible statement and such statement could deter the situation. He said Anti-Terrorism Amendment Act is an important law and we can't just approve it with our eyes closed. The committee is going through the act thoroughly and several of its clauses are in negation to basic human rights and several members have objected to these clauses until the reservations of members are removed the committee would not approve the bill.
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