Senate Committee of the Whole in its meeting considered recommendations submitted by members of the Upper House for providing speedy and inexpensive justice to the people. The meeting was held under the Chairmanship of Chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani, here in the Senate Chamber on Monday.
The meeting adopted various recommendations including the proposals of provincial governments for creating a special force for escorting prisoners, right of appeal in suo moto cases and reviewing the powers of police regarding human rights at the provincial level.
Members actively participated in consideration of proposals regarding misuse of authority, negligence of police and other concerned officers and proposed establishing a mechanism of punishment for those. The committee also observed that a mechanism needs to be put in place to eradicate hurdles in filing justified FIRs while at the same time discouraging false and frivolous FIRs. The committee members also suggested review of NAB laws which gives the culprits of corruption and misuse of authority an opportunity of plea bargain. It was proposed that such people should not be termed free of charge.
Chairman Senate said that recommendations of members regarding Article 182-A will be seen and a draft amendment will be introduced in the next meeting on Wednesday. The committee rejected a recommendation of establishing Supreme Court in all provinces terming it a change in basic constitutional structure of the country. Such changes do not come under the purview of the Committee of the Whole, Chairman Senate observed. The Committee of the Whole constituted to discuss FATA reforms will meet on Tuesday to receive proposals from experts and discussion of members. Former Senator Afrasiab Khattak, Analyst Rahimullah Yousafzai, President FATA Journalists Forum and President FATA Lawyers Forum will address the meeting.-PR