News Detail

Meeting of Senate Standing Committee on Interior was held here at Parliament House on Wednesday with Senator Mohsin Aziz in Chair.

The Senate Committee unanimously passed the bill titled "The Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2023." Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi, the mover of the bill, stated that the increasing trend of false accusations and malicious criminal prosecution has become an alarming issue these days. The bill aims to enhance the time period of punishment for these offenses by amending Section 182 of the Pakistan Penal Code and Schedule-II of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Additionally, the Committee unanimously passed the Bill titled "The Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) (Amendment) Bill, 2023" with amendments. Senator Dr. Humayun Mohmand, the mover of the bill, argued that the Bill makes DNA tests mandatory and compels every police officer to test the rape victim upon examination. He added that the aim of the bill is to address the loopholes that allow offenders to escape justice.

Moreover, the Senate body deliberated on the Bill titled "The Rehriban (Street Vendors) Livelihood Protection Bill, 2023." Senator Sania Nishtar, the mover of the bill, argued that there are approximately one million street vendors in Pakistan, which are currently regulated by Municipal Corporations and generate around Rs. 900 billion in revenue annually. She added that the aim of the bill is to protect the rights of street vendors against the unholy nexus of police officials, municipal staff, and shopkeepers. Senator Mohsin Aziz directed the CDA and Interior Ministry to submit a detailed report on the Bill within the next 10 to 15 days.

While discussing the problems confronted by thousands of Biharis residing in Karachi Malir in obtaining CNICs, Syed Agha Rafiullah, a former MNA, stated that it's unfortunate that Biharis have sacrificed their lives for this country and chose to stay in Pakistan during the East Pakistan Separation, yet the nation fails to recognize Biharis as citizens. Caretaker Federal Minister for Interior, Sarfraz Bugti, has decided to conduct a meeting on the matter at the Interior Ministry and invited the former MNA Syed Agha Rafiullah for consultation and the appropriate resolution of the matter.

Furthermore, the Senate Committee took up the matter of the non-issuance of a notification for the upgrading of the position of Database Administrator from BPS-17 to BPS-18 and the induction of services into the regular cadre. Officials explained that the individual initially worked in the National Aliens Registration Authority (NARA) as a Database Administrator in BPS-17 and decided to join NADRA upon the merger, subsequently being promoted to Deputy Director BPS-18 in 2018. Furthermore, the Establishment Division upgraded the position of Database Administrator from BPS-17 to BPS-18. However, the petitioner submitted an application for the merger of their services into the EX-DGR or a separate cadre, and this petition was rejected by the Court and Chairman NADRA. The Committee disposed of the matter.

The Committee  discussed the matter of public importance regarding the closure of NADRA Registration Centers in Dasht Kuddan and Dasht Balngivor, Tehsil Dast, District Ketch, Balochistan. NADRA officials explained that the centers could not be opened due to pending security clearance from the Interior Ministry and the centers will functional in November of this year. The Committee directed the Interior Ministry to provide appropriate security for the efficient operation of NADRA centers located in Dasht Kuddan and Dast Balngivor.

The Committee also took up the matter of open sale and purchase of narcotics in the areas of Ibrahim Haideri, District Malir Karachi. The Chairman Committee directed the Law Enforcement Agencies to play a proactive role in eradication of menace of drugs and submit report on the matter in the next meeting.

In attendance were Senator Fawzia Arshad, Senator Shahadat Awan, Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi, Senator Saifullah Abro, Senator Sania Nishtar, Senator Dr. Muhammad Humayun Mohmand, Senator Danesh Kumar, Senator Kamil Ali Agha, Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar, Caretaker Federal Minister for Interior Sarfraz Bugti,Special Secretary Interior Nadeem Mehboob and other senior officers of relevant departments were also in attendance.