China-Pakistan Economic Corridor: special security division being set up, Senate told

State Minister for Interior informed Senate on Thursday that a special security division is being set up for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. During question hour, the minister said that the division will consist of nine battalions of Pakistan Army and six battalions of civilian security forces. He said the division will be deputed for the security of foreigners and Pakistanis working on the construction of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
On a motion of Senator Farhatullah Babar chairman Senate Raza Rabbani referred to the human rights committee of the Senate the issue of retaliatory killings by security agencies in the wake of killings of twenty labours in Turbat.
Babar called for referring the matter to human rights committee after the government failed to give assurance to hold a judicial inquiry into the incident as demanded by him. He expressed concern over the extra judicial killings in Balochistan by the security agencies saying that the state was resorting to the same tactics as that of the militants and lawless elements.
About Turbat incident, Baligur Rehman said that an investigation committee has been constituted to probe the incident. "Nine Levies personnel who showed negligence while on duty have been arrested and they are being interrogated by the committee to fix responsibility," he added.
About formation of judicial commission to probe into the killing of 20 labourers, he said at present the government had no plan to set up a judicial commission. However, chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani referred the brutal killing of the labourers in Turbat to senate committee on human rights.
Speaking on a point of order Senator Kulsum Perveen of PML-N demanded Chairman Senate to form a committee, saying that any change in the Pakistan-China Economic Corridor will deprive smaller provinces especially Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan of their rights besides creating a sense of deprivation.
The chair asked the lady senator to consult the leader of the house in Senate Raja Zafarul Haq and move a motion and he will order formation of a special committee comprising senators to look into the issue.
To a question Baligh-ur-Rehman said thirteen counters have been established in different countries for issuance of national identity cards to overseas Pakistanis. He said such counters will be established in eight more countries.
Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique told the house that 63 locomotives were imported from China during the last five years. He said performance of these locomotives was satisfactory as these are based on latest technology, adding seventy-five new locomotives will be manufactured to meet the growing demand in the country.
CHANGES IN RULES
In what appears to be an unprecedented revamping of rules the Senate introduced a new set of laws including the one under which the house may constitute itself into a committee with powers to order summon any person or production of data from any department.
"The house may constitute itself into a committee of the whole on a motion by the leader of the house or leader of the opposition. When the house constitutes itself into a committee of the whole, it functions as one committee acting upon any matter(s) referred by the house and conducts its proceedings like a regular committee with its membership comprised all members of the house," said the newly-inserted Rule 172-A in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate, 2012.
The house also passed the amendment seeking substitution of Rule 58 under which answers to questions given by minister "shall be electronically sent to members" two hours before the commencement of the question hour but not be released for publication until answers are actually given on the floor of the house.
With addition of 256A, federal ministers shall, after every three months, appear before the house and make reports on all matters referred by the house and recommendations made by the committees.