News of Ehsanullah's escape true: minister

Interior Minister Brig Ijaz Shah (retd) confirmed on Monday that media reports regarding escape of former Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan from the custody of security agencies were true.

During an informal conversation with the media after attending National Assembly's Standing Committee on Interior, the minister said he had read media reports of the former TTP leader having fled the country.

He said, "The news is true."

Shah further explained that the state was aware of his escape.

Responding to a question whether the government was doing anything about the matter, he said, "You will hear a good news as a lot of work is being done."

The former TTP spokesman's escape was announced by Ehsan in an audio message released on social media.

Earlier, in National Assembly's Standing Committee on Interior, the minister said that law had been made for prohibiting use of mobile phones and cigarettes in Islamabad while driving.

Inspector General Police, Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) failed to implement the directives of the Ministry of Interior.

The minister said that as a nation they were far behind when it came to implementation of rules and regulations.

"No law is implemented in its true letter and spirit," he added.

The minister maintained that laws were made by previous governments but could not be implemented.

He further said that the objective of the government's bill was to make punishment stricter under an offence.

"We are not spending sufficient funds to control crime in society," Shah said.

He further said that the affairs of the society were not run through the Pakistan Penal Code.

"No family laws are available to summon police in case a son beat his mother," he said.

The minister further said that no objection certificates (NOCs) of illegal housing societies in the capital city must be cancelled.

He further said the federal government had planned to extend the branches of passport offices to tehsils having population of over one million.

Shah said that staff of passport office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia had not received their salaries for the last six months and they were meeting their expenses by collecting donations.

About security measures taken during recent visit of the Bangladesh cricket team, he said that he had already made it clear to the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman that interior ministry would not provide any security to them if they stayed at Marriott Hotel.

"I was requested to give status of state guest to all cricket players playing the PSL," Shah added.

The standing committee was held under chairmanship of Khurram Shahzad Nawaz.

The committee also discussed and approved a government bill, "The Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2020".

The committee also discussed "The Criminal Law (Amendment) (Section 377, 377-D, 377-F, 377-G and amendment in schedule -II Bill, 2019". The bill was moved by James Iqbal.

The Chairman Committee directed the Ministry of Interior to take back "The Emergency Madadgar (protection from civil and criminal liabilities) Bill, 2019 for further amendments. Asma Qadeer was the mover of the bill.

District Attorney General argued before the committee that person involved in quick response in any emergency was also a witness.

Secretary Interior also endorsed that Evidence Law might be influenced if "Madadgar" would not be interrogated.

Shahida Rehmani moved "The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (Article 5)".

The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill 2020 (Section -292) was moved by Amjad Ali Khan and "The Criminul Law (Amendment) Bill 2020 (Section -427, 428.) moved by Sher Akbar Khan.