Chairman Senate Raza Rabbani on Wednesday observed that revival of the sunset clause to extend the military courts after their demise last week will contradict the government's claim of huge success in military operations against terrorism in the country.
"If the operation against militancy and terrorism was successful, what's the need to revive the sunset clause...it contradicts the very claim of the government's success in war against terrorism," he added. Speaking on a point of public importance, Senator Farhatullah Babar of Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) opposed extension to controversial law after it stopped functioning on expiry of mandated period. The law has been introduced two years back following a deadly attack on Army Public School Peshawar.
Senator Babar said that a thorough analysis should be made as to how many of those sentenced to death were jet black terrorists for which the courts had been set up in the first place. The procedure and collection of evidence adopted in these courts should also be examined, he said, adding it should also be investigated whether some internees in the internment centres of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were also sentenced to death.
He drew the attention towards the 35 internees who disappeared from Malaknd internment centre sometimes back and out of which only 7 were produced before the Supreme Court. "No matter how much threat a country is facing in terms of terrorism and whatever, there is no place for military courts in a democratic polity and it is not justified at all," he maintained.
He criticised the government for initiating talks with political parties in a bid to give further extension to military courts. He said that the cases pending before the military courts are in limbo which the government wants to dispose of through military courts instead of transferring it to civilian courts.
Expressing dismay over rejection of two bills, including 'The Unattended Orphans (Rehabilitation and Welfare) Bill, 2016 and 'The Torture, Custodial Death' and Custodial Rape (Prevention and Punishment) Bill 2014,' the chairman Senate said that it is unfortunate that National Assembly throws into dustbin any bill passed by Senate no matter how important it is.
He directed the minister for law and justice to look into it, saying this is not acceptable as both the bills, especially the Unattended Orphans bill that was unanimously passed by Senate, were solely aimed at protecting the children without parentage. Responding to a calling attention notice moved by Usman Khan Kakar and others regarding the low pressure of gas in various areas of district Kalat, Balochistan, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that it is taking place as 87 per cent gas is stolen in Balochistan.
He said that there are 10,500 gas consumers in Kalat, adding the demand during winter is 3 million cubic feet and one million cubic feet in summer. He said that 12 million cubic feet of gas is being supplied to Kalat at present but due to gas theft, some areas are not receiving proper pressure. The joint opposition staged a walkout in protest against the government's negligence for paying no attention to the dilapidated condition of Bacha Khan International Airport, Peshawar.
Senator Mohsin Aziz of PTI, through a calling attention notice, drew attention of the government towards the airport which was built in 1927 but has been declared the third worst airport in the world, which is a shame for the government. He said that the previous provincial government of ANP renamed it after its leader Bacha Khan but they also failed to improve its poor condition, as the terminal looks like a bus terminal.
The chair referred the matter to the concerned committee of the House for deliberation and directed to report back to the House within 45 days. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab said that Rs 3 billion have been allocated for maintenance and renovation of the airport and the work will be completed during this year. "It is spread over an area of 400 plus acres of land, of which 27 acres are with the CAA while the rest are with the military, and the government is cognisant to the fact that its renovation is a must," he added.
The chair constituted a special committee consisting of members belonging to all political parties from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to review the renovation and maintenance work of the airport. Responding to a motion, Minister for Production Ghulam Murtaza Jatoi said that Utility Stores Corporation is moving towards profit and after its stability within two to three months, its vacant posts will be filled on merit.
He was concluding the discussion on a motion moved by Mian Muhammad Ateeq Sheikh regarding the tests conducted by National Testing Services (NTS) for appointments against various posts in Utility Stores Corporation, advertised in 2015-16. Speaking on the motion, the members said that special measures should be taken to stop corruption in NTS. They said that huge amounts are received from the candidates again and again in the name of tests.
The senators said that there should be some mechanism to stop this practice of receiving huge amounts from poor candidates by NTS, adding some regulatory mechanism to check the quality and standard should also be put in place. The annual report of national Economic Council for financial year 2014-15, was also laid before the House. A debate on the report will take place during the ongoing session, said the chairman Senate. The Senate Standing Committee report on 'The Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Bill, 2016' was laid before the House.