Dope tests in educational institutions: senate body decides to introduce legislation

Senate Standing Committee on Interior on Monday decided to introduce legislation for conducting dope/ medical tests in educational institutions to keep a check and control on the unabated rise in demand of drugs among students. The parliamentary panel met here with Senator Rehman Malik in the chair. The panel expressed serious concern over rising trend of drugs use in educational institutions of the federal capital. The committee directed the Interior Ministry to draft a bill in consultation with Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) for introducing medical/dope tests in education institutions. It should be made mandatory for all the educational institutions to conduct medical test of every student every year to ascertain whether he/she is addicted to drugs or not, the committee members recommended.
The committee also recommended to ban internet/ mobile phone inside the educational institutions even for teachers to cut the linkages with drugs suppliers and control the menace. Malik directed the inspector general police Islamabad that the police must show zero tolerance against drug smugglers, particularly those who are supplying drugs in educational institutions.
He said that the committee had earlier taken a very serious notice of drugs in educational institutions and, thus, operations were conducted in different institutions of the capital. He further directed the police and Interior Ministry to form a team comprising the school staff, officials of ministry and police for narcotics control in educational institutions. The committee recommended stringent punishment for criminals supplying drugs in educational institutions.
The committee also recommended amendments in Blue Book to avoid traffic jam/rush during the VIP movement. The inspector general informed that the Security Division handled 487 VVIP movements and 2,579 VIP movements in 2017 compared to 353 and 2554 such movements respectively in 2016. The committee decided to move a motion in the House while recommending that Blue Book needs to be revisited and modified as per the modern world requirements. The committee took serious notice of the matter wherein the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has instructed its staff in written to send Pashtu speaking towards Help Desk for interviewing them properly before issuance of token to them, terming it derogatory and highly condemnable.
Senator Shahi Syed took up the issue of issuance of instructions by the NADRA to its staff wherein they are directed to send Pashtu speaking towards Help Desk for proper interview before token issuance. Terming it highly condemnable and derogatory, Malik directed the secretary Interior to investigate in this regard, take back the instructions immediately and also directed NADRA chairman to appear before the committee and explain as to why such instructions were being passed.
He said, "We all are equal and respectable citizens of the state of Pakistan and no such discrimination based on language, color, creed, cast or any would be tolerable." Senator Shahi Syed expressed grave concern over the issuance of such instructions and said that the move has hurt feelings of Pashtun people. Malik said that suspected applicant can be from any province so there is no logic in mentioning "Pashtun" in particular.
The committee was concerned to know that the compensation money for the "martyrs of Islamabad police" is much less than the money for the martyrs of Punjab police. Rehman Malik directed the Ministry of Interior to enhance the package and compensation money for Islamabad Police martyrs and directed that compensation for martyrs' families of police should be same across the country. The committee decided to move a private bill in the House seeking 'same and equal' package for martyrs of police across the country.
The committee considered and discussed different bills in detail. "The Criminal Laws (Amendment) Protection of Rights of Transgender Persons Bill 2017" moved by Senator Rubina Khalid was withdrawn by the mover and was disposed of. The committee also considered "The Islamabad Capital Territory (Prohibition of Interest on Private Loans) Bill, 2017" moved by Senator Sirajul Haq. With the consent of the mover, the bill was referred to the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII).
The FC Balochistan submitted a detailed report on Gharang check post of FC in Balochistan due to which long queues of vehicles was a daily routine causing serious problems to the people of the areas. The issue was moved by Senator Maulana Hafiz Hamdullah and the committee was satisfied by the briefing of FC as the road was extended and the trouble of the people was minimized after the committee took up the issue. The FC briefing said that a hospital was also established near the check post for facilitation of the passengers. The matter was disposed of. Malik appreciated the FC Balochistan for addressing the public issue.
Malik asked Islamabad police to brief the committee about the achievements of Islamabad Police made during the last two years as well as capacity building resources.
Inspector General of Islamabad Police Dr Sultan Azam Taimori and DIG Security Waqar Chohan briefed the committee about the achievements for which the chairman appreciated the Islamabad police.
The committee chairman said that Islamabad being the capital of the country needs to be made fully protected and free of drugs and riots. He said that it gives a bad name to the country when mobs or political parties besiege the capitals; therefore, every kind of protest and political gatherings should be restricted to a particular place, as he being the then interior minister had limited such activities to F-9 Park. He said if legislation is required in this regard, this committee will move a resolution in the House.
The committee recommended and directed the secretary Interior to acquire 50 kanals of land for Islamabad jail and a training college from Capital Development Authority (CDA). Malik recommended special grant for Islamabad police to meet their basic requirements in terms of equipment and others. Islamabad police seek recommendations of the APC vehicles which the force lacks.
The chairman committee also directed to move a resolution in the House for meeting requirements of Islamabad Police, establishment of a jail and enhancing the capability of police personnel.