The National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior on Tuesday approved three important bills and deferred "Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government (Amendment) Act, 2017" for further discussion. The committee which met with MNA Rana Shamim Ahmad Khan in the chair approved "The ICT Prohibition of Employment of Children Act, 2017", seeking protection of children and provision of a safe environment for their positive growth ,moved by MNA Shazia Marri.
The parliamentary panel also approved another bill "The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2017" with amendment in section 4, 5 and 6 Act II of 1983 seeking increase in punishment of child pornography and sexual abuse of children moved by MNA Musarrat Ahmad Zeb.
A senior official of Ministry of Law and Justice said that on behalf of the ministry he opposed the bill as increase in punishment does not help curbing the menace and only strict implementation on law is mandatory to eliminate various crimes from the society.
When MNA Nawab Muhammad Yousuf Talpur asked the official of Ministry of Law, "Do you mean that the government has failed in implementing the law?" On this the official said in affirmative.
State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry said that Ministry of Interior supports the bill but official of Law Ministry does not give such a sweeping statement. "The official of law ministry needs to present specific grounds under which he opposes the proposed bill despite making sweeping statement", he said.
The committee after taking the viewpoint of all members unanimously approved the bill.
The parliamentary panel also approved "The Criminal Law (amendment) Bill 2017" seeking provision of copies of material or evidence which the prosecution intends to produce during trial in the court moved by MNA SA Iqbal Qadri.
The committee also discussed "The Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Act, 2015 (X of 2015) seeking elimination of non-elected board and local government commission, enhancement of power of Municipal Corporation Islamabad (MCI), enhancement of powers of union councils, increase in financial independence of both MCI and union councils and ensuring jobs for locals of Islamabad for positions up to BPS-4 moved by MNA Asad Umer.
Talal Chuadhry said that local government commission exists in the local government system of four provinces and therefore he opposed elimination of the commission.
Umer said that local government has been set up in the federal capital but it has not been given required funds as well as powers. "Non-elected local government (LG) board and LG commission should be abolished aimed to empower local government authorities", he said.
Following detailed discussion, the committee decided that Asad Umer, Talal Chaudhry, MNA Shamim Ahmad Khan and secretary Ministry of Interior will further discuss the bill before the next meeting.