The National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control on Tuesday expressed serious concerns over assault on two female passengers by officials of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) at Benazir Bhutto International Airport and recommended action against top officials responsible for the incident instead of making a constable a scapegoat.
The committee which met with Rana Shamim Ahmed Khan in the chair asked Director FIA Islamabad Zone to appear before the committee and brief the parliamentarians about the inquiry report of the incident. The committee expressed anger for not taking action against high officials of FIA.
MNA Salman Baloch said that the scuffle did not occur between the Norwegian national of Pakistani origin and FIA official over the issue of toilet papers but it started after the passengers saw an FIA official making their video. Dr Arif Alvi said that FIA must inform the parliamentary body what action it has taken against the official who was making video. "Why the FIA has registered an FIR against these passengers and under which law they were offloaded from the flight," he further questioned.
Separately, the committee unanimously passed 'The Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Bill, 2016," which seeks protection for witnesses, judges, counsels and public prosecutors. A senior official of the Ministry of Interior said the ministry supports the said bill. The Interior Ministry has supported the viewpoint of the FIA and the Agency has also recommended to endorse the bill, he said.
According to a brief submitted by FIA before the committee, keeping in view the aggravated feeling of insecurity prevalent in the society and threats to the witnesses by terrorists and organised groups, it is recommended to endorse the said bill. The bill will help in establishing a social structure where anyone can stand in witness box without any fear of retaliation to him, his family or his property by the hardened criminals.
According to the statement of objects and reasons of the bill, witnesses need to have the confidence to come forward to assist law enforcement and prosecutorial authorities. They need to be assured that they will receive support and protection from intimidation and the harm that criminal groups may seek to inflict upon them in attempts to discourage or punish them from co-operating.
Similarly, inadequate protection to the judges and prosecutors, etc, dealing with anti-terrorism cases has been identified as one of the major causes impeding the disposal of cases. The draft bill will ensure that the government shall formulate and implement a comprehensive programme for the protection of judges, members, counsels, public prosecutors, witnesses and every other person associated with the investigation or trial of the case.
The committee also passed 'The Land Acquisition (Amendment) Bill, 2016,' which seeks to fix a timeframe for acquisition of land for housing societies. The committee also passed 'The Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill' moved by MNA Surriya Asghar, which seeks to formulate a programme for the protection of judges, public prosecutors, witnesses and every other person associated with the investigation or trial of the case.
The committee also asked the Ministry of Interior to contact Sindh police to provide security to MQM Pakistan MNA Salman Khan Baloch who received threatening messages from an unknown person. Baloch said that despite directives of IGP Sindh, the concerned SSP did not provide him security. "I am in serious shock after receiving threatening calls," he said. The MNA also played audios of threatening messages during the meeting.
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