Senate body for shifting Zardari's cases to Karachi

The Senate Standing Committee on Interior on Monday passed a unanimous resolution seeking shifting of former president Asif Ali Zardari's cases from Islamabad to Karachi.

The meeting, which was presided over by Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Senator and Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Interior Rehman Malik, passed a resolution seeking shifting of Zardari's cases from Islamabad to Karachi.

The issue related to shifting of Zardari cases to Karachi was raised by Senator Kulsoom Parveen. Zardari is not being treated like other people and she seeks immediate transfer of his cases to Karachi, she said.

Malik converted the demand of Senator Parveen into a resolution and passed it with majority votes. The committee had taken a suo motu notice of the health of former president Zardari and had urged the government to allow him to get medical treatment from his personal doctor. The family members of the former president are in Karachi, he said.

Secretary Ministry of Interior Yousaf Naeem Khokhar said that the government is working over jail reforms and is preparing standard operation procedure (SOP) in this regard.

Senator Parveen pointed out that women are not being provided food and other special needs in jails. Malik directed the Ministry of Interior to implement the directions already issued by the committee to bifurcate the women jails from men's. Malik said that jail reforms need to be brought in the form of a bill so that these are all encompassing and applicable throughout the country.

The committee discussed in detail the issue of 70 Pakistanis stranded in Iraq who went there through fake agents. Malik said that he had taken the notice of the issue and had directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Bureau of Emigration and Overseas (BOE) to take stringent actions against fake overseas employment agents and those officers of BOE involved in such criminal activities.

The committee also took up the issue of stranded Pakistanis in Turkey as well, which serves as a gateway for Europe, and was told that 3,700 Pakistanis were verified in Turkey after the issue was raised by the Senate Standing Committee on Interior.

Director General (DG) BOE informed the committee that 21 licenses of illegal importers have been cancelled and 40 licenses have been suspended, adding their advertisements and mobile numbers were also blocked. He further said that BOE is in contact with NADRA and immigration office and biometric verification is mandatory now.

He said that three countries including Qatar, UAE and Saudi Arabia have so far been approached to link their data management with Pakistan and more countries will be approached. In December 2018, a demand from Iraq embassy was received seeking people who know how to drive trailers, he said, adding 65 people went there and they were divided into two groups. Twenty-seven people failed the test and they were recalled to Pakistan. He also informed that 38 people did a round but subsequently the local people didn't want foreigners to drive and work there and they were also recalled.

Malik directed that a case shall be lodged against the promoter and the protector from BOE shall also be included in the FIR. The committee has again condemned the unprecedented brutalities by Indian forces in Indian Held Kashmir and the 121 days long curfew in the valley.

The committee was informed that out of 14 National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) centers abroad, 10 are functional and 4 overseas centers have been closed on orders of Supreme Court. Malik directed Nadra to propose an amendment in the Nadra Ordinance to have a Nadra office in any overseas place where more than 20,000 Pakistani people reside.

The standing committee discussed issue of Kashana Welfare Homes Lahore's former superintendent's allegations that orphan girls were wedded forcibly in five years. The meeting constituted a sub-committee to probe into the matter and submit a report.

The meeting was also attended Senators Sardar Shafiq Tareen, Dr Shehzad Waseem, Momin Khan Afridi, Muhammad Tahir Bizenjo, Sajjad Hussain Turi, and Mian Ateeq Sheikh, secretary interior, chairman Nadra, DG BOE, director FIA and other senior officials.