Rehman Malik-led Senate body condemns Modi’s UNGA speech

Islamabad: The Senate Standing Committee on Interior in its meeting on Friday unanimously adopted a resolution strongly condemning the Indian PM Narendra Modi speech in United Nations and unprecedented brutalities being committed in Indian Occupied Kashmir by Indian Forces.

At the onset of the meeting, Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Interior Senator Rehman Malik said that Friday is 431st day of Indian brutal curfew in Indian Occupied Kashmir adding since day first this committee has been observing and counting these as ‘Dark Days’ in the history of mankind and expressing solidarity with Kashmiri brothers and sisters who are struggling for their legitimate right of self-determination under UNSC Resolutions.

Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Interior Senator A. Rehman Malik moved a resolution which was unanimously adopted by the committee. He read the resolution as “The Senate Standing Committee on Interior strongly condemns the speech on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi totally ignoring Kashmir in the United Nations.

The Committee expresses it disappointment that even none of the Member states except Turkey and Pakistan condemned the longest curfew in the Indian Occupied Kashmir and violations of human rights against innocent and unarmed Kashmiris while Kashmiris were expecting that the world would have raised voice against the crimes being committed by Indian Armed Forces against the humanity. The Committee appreciates Turkey and Prime Minister of Pakistan to have highlighted the atrocities and human rights violations being committed by Indian armed forces in the United Nations. The Committee, once again, demands that the government should continue to raise this matter of human rights violations by Indian Armed Forces in the United Nations.”

The Committee considered “The Islamabad Capital Territory Criminal Prosecution Service (Constitution, Functions and Powers) Bill, 2020” introduced by Senator Muhammad Javed Abbasi in the House on 24thAugust, 2020. The committee members discussed the Bill in detail. Chairman Committee Senator A. Rehman Malik said that the Prosecution department is one of the key departments facilitating the administration of the criminal justice system. He added that in the absence of any law dealing specifically with the issues related to the criminal prosecution, the prosecution department cannot work effectively and efficiently.

He said that for a better coordination, comparatively effective, active and well-established prosecution department in Islamabad Capital Territory, there is a dire need to make a law dealing with the said issue. Senator Muhammad Javed Abbasi while briefing the committee in detail about the objective and reason of the bill said that there is no prosecution branch in the federal capital while these branches exist in other provinces. He said that the state has the responsibility to punish anyone who commits a crime, but there are some people who do not have the resources to get a good lawyer.

He said that this is the practice all over the world. He urged that our provinces have the system but not in ICT and there should be a constitutional branch. Senator Rana Maqbool Ahmed said that there should be a clear procedure of prosecution. Senator Kauda Babar said that there is also a legal authority and we must consider it

Chairman of the committee Senator Rehman Malik said that legal aid and prosecution branch have to go hand in hand. Expressing his annoyance, Senator Dr. Shahzad Waseem said that neither working papers nor opinions have been received from the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Law and Justice. Chairman Committee directed the Interior Ministry to provide a report within a week in consultation with Ministry of Law and Justice, otherwise the Bill would be considered as approved after a week. He said that Islamabad has taken the shape of a province but the legal requirements have not yet been met. The Bill was deferred till the next meeting of the committee.

The Senate Standing Committee on Interior also considered “The Islamabad Capital Territory Watersides Safety Bill, 2020 which was introduced by Senator Muhammad Javed Abbasi the House on 24thAugust, 2020. While appreciating the mover for the Bill, Chairman Committee Senator A. Rehman Malik said that waterside accidents are more common and there are a number of instances where waterside accidents have caused deaths.

He said that unfortunately Pakistan is among nations that has lost a great number of lives, especially youth, due to drowning at watersides. He said that this bill seeks to establish Safety measures at watersides to prevent incidents of drowning and we must appreciate such moves by fellow senator.

Briefing the committee on importance of the Bill, Senator Muhammad Javed Abbasi said that along with safety measures for access to rivers, streams and canals all over the world, other information is also written but every year in Pakistan, countless people drown and die. He said that whole country needs this bill but for now it is limited to Islamabad. Chairman of the committee Senator A. Rehman Malik commented that laws are made and there are difficulties in implementation due to lack of rules.

He directed the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Law and Justice to give their opinion within a week or else the bill would be considered passed. He said that the concerned departments should brief the committee with readiness and working papers should be provided to the committee in time and should be careful next time. The bill was deferred till next meeting of the committee.

The Committee also Considered “The Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2020”introduced by Senator Muhammad Javed Abbasi the House on 24thAugust, 2020 and was deferred for a week and meanwhile a detailed report was sought from Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Law and Justice.

The Committee considered and passed with majority “The Islamabad Capital Territory Law Officers Bill, 2020” which introduced by Senator Muhammad Javed Abbasi the House on 24thAugust, 2020. Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Interior Senator A. Rehman Malik appreciated the mover for the bill and said it was the need of the hour.

The Senate Standing Committee on Interior had sought a detailed briefing of the Ministry of Interior on the matter of Jail Reforms all over the Country. Chairman Senator A. Rehman Malik said that prisoners also have rights which we have to take care of.

He said that this committee has already received many complaints of ill-treatment of prisoners in various jails of the country. He recommended separate jails and women administration for women prisoners adding there is a need for a separate jails for women prisoners and female staff and administration. He directed the constitution of sub-committee headed by Senator Rana Maqbool Ahmed to prepare a report on Jail Reforms. He recommended that the sub-committee to prepare a report on Jail Reform in collaboration with the Home Secretaries, IGPs and other concerned authorities of the four provinces. He also decided to make a surprise visit to any jail in the country to check the conditions of the inmates. Senator Kulsoom Parveen said that apart from Pakistan’s prisons, the condition of Darulaman is also very deplorable.

The meeting of the Standing Committee reviewed in detail the second wave of Coronavirus Pandemic in the country and especially the current situation of corona cases in the federal capital and the steps taken to address it. Deputy Commissioner Islamabad while briefing the committee said that there are 527 active cases in Islamabad and 100 cases have been reported so far. He told the committee that Corona tests have been performed on 400,000 people in Islamabad and less than 2% have tested positive and there have been 186 deaths so far and people follow SOPs. Dr. Zaeem Zia DHO Islamabad also apprised the committee about the measure taken to curb the Coronavirus.

Chairman of the committee Senator A. Rehman Malik said that he had predicted that the number of cases of Coronavirus would increase with the onset of winter. He said that there was still a misunderstanding among the people about Coronavirus as still many are taking it unserious. He urged that awareness about COVID-19 among the masses should be created and the public is urged to strictly follow the precautionary measures against the coronavirus. He said that the committee was the first to conduct meeting on the Coronavirus and fully supported the fight. He appreciated the arrangements and measures taken by National Command and Control Centre, Ministry of Health, National Institute of Health and the Islamabad administration against the Coronavirus pandemic. He directed that appreciation letter shall be issued to officials of Ministry of Health, DHO Islamabad, DC Islamabad and other officials for their tireless efforts in fight against the pandemic.

Chairman Committee Senator A. Rehman Malik also take notice on the abduction of BOL Network’s President Nabeel Jakhura and sought a detailed report from the Ministry of Interior.

The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Senator Abdur Rehman Malik here at the Parliament House and was attended among others by Senators Rana Maqbool Ahmed, Javed Abbasi, Kalsoom Parveen, Dr. Shahzad Wasim, Kauda Babar, Sheikh Ateeq, and Sardar Shafiq Tareen also attended the meeting. Additional Secretary Interior, Chief Commissioner and DC Islamabad and other officials from ministry of Interior, Law and Justice, NIH, NCOC and Islamabad Police were also present.