Rehman Malik-led Senate body discusses national issues

Islamabad: The Senate Standing Committee on Interior in its meeting on Thursday unanimously adopted resolution felicitating nation on the auspicious day of independence and resolving commitment to serve Pakistan to the best of our abilities as a dignified and independent nation.

The committee also strongly condemned the ongoing Indian curfew in Indian Occupied Kashmir and urged the government to take more rigorous actions to counter the propaganda and illegal moves of the Indian government and drag PM Narednra Modi in ICJ and UNSC.

Senate Standing Committee on Interior strongly condemned the Cyberattack by Indian spy network. Chairman Committee Senator A. Rehman Malik said that India is involved in cyber- crimes worldwide and stealing sensitive national data of various countries for different nefarious activities. He said that Indian hackers steal data of different countries and sell it to rival countries and the data of individuals for blackmailing. He informed that he had raised this matter in committee meetings back in 2018 on 20 July and 24th July and had directed Ministry of Interior to take extra-ordinary measures to block such attacks. He appreciated the Pakistan intelligence agencies to have identified this major cyberattack by Indian intelligence agencies involving a range of cybercrimes. He advised the government to write to Secretary General Interpol against Indian cyber terrorism against various sovereign states and to take action against India for Cyber-Terrorism. He advised the Ministry of Interior to direct all the departments to establish iron curtains to protect national data.

the onset of the meeting, Senator A. Rehman Malik moved a resolution which was unanimously adopted by the committee. He read the resolution as “Senate Standing Committee on Interior congratulates the entire nation on the auspicious day of 14th August, 2020 to celebrate Independence Day of Pakistan with the reminder that we should not forget the golden words of our great leader Quid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah-Unity , Faith and Discipline. The Committee highly appreciates the outstanding wisdom and farsightedness of Quaid-e-Azam for giving us Two Nation Theory for creation of a sovereign state for the Muslims of the Sub-continent which is being proven 100 percent right now in view of the unprecedented atrocities being committed and anti-mindset of Modi government under the ideology of Hindutva and RSS against the Muslims living in India and Indian Occupied Kashmir. Let us resolve to serve Pakistan to the best of our abilities as a dignified and independent nation”
The committee highly appreciated the chair for tabling the resolution on the auspicious day of independence. He said that today is the 373rd day of curfew in Indian Occupied Kashmir and since day first this committee has been marking these days 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. He urged the nation to remember their Kashmiri brothers and sisters while celebrating the happiness of independence.

The issue of placing Pakistan in FATF’s Grey List was also discussed in the committee. Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Interior Senator A. Rehman Malik expressed that FATF is playing a discriminatory role as it is victimizing Pakistan while favoring India. He informed the Committee that he as Chairman of this committee had written a letter to FATF President to remove Pakistan’s name from its grey list and proceed against Prime Minister Modi for his role in money laundering and terror financing adding but discriminatory treatment being meted out to Pakistan. He said that as policy making body and business group, FATAF has no right to put any country in Grey List or Black List. He urged the government to question the legitimacy of FATF in the next meeting on the issue. The reply of the FATF to Senator Rehman Malik was placed before the members wherein the President of FATAF states “FATF is a ‘policy making body that has not the investigative and prosecutorial functions”. Senator Rehman Malik stressed that if FATF cannot take any action against India why is Pakistan being pressurized and targeted. He informed the committee that he has drafted a petition for ICJ against FATF discriminatory role and shall be filed soon along with a delegation.

The committee considered the matter of ratification of the nomination of Senator Rana Maqbool Ahmed belonging to opposition benches in place of Senator Kauda Babar as member of Board of Governors of National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA). The committee unanimously ratified the nomination of Senator Rana Maqbool Ahmed. Senator A. Rehman Malik felicitated Senator Rana Maqbool and expressed that NATCTA will be benefited from his vast experience as law enforcer.

Senate Standing Committee on Interior in its meeting considered the Point of Public Importance “Rights of Special People” that was raised by Senator Dr. Shahzad Wasim in the House on 13th January, 2020. Chairman committee Senator A. Rehman Malik while appreciating the mover said that the existing procedure for issuance of CNIC for disabled persons should be reviewed on merit basis and the government should prepare comprehensive SOPs for issuance of CNIC with special logo of disability. He said that the nature of disability should be mentioned on the CNIC specifically and the certificate of disability should be issued by the medical board of government hospital. He said that 2% quota as per given provisions in the recruitment rules of the government should be ensured by the Government and all buildings shall have escalators or ramps from Parking to last floor to facilitate the special persons. Senator A. Rehman Malik after thorough deliberation, recommended that the Ministry of Interior should coordinate with the Ministry of Human Rights and all stakeholders from the provincial governments to introduce a comprehensive legislation so that only real and deserving disable people could get Certificates of Disability so that only bonafide people could avail specific facilities of disable people.

The committee also considered matter of starred question that the residents of a number of Private Housing Societies in the ICT are not being provided electricity and gas connections on account of said Housing Societies being declared illegal by the CDA. The matter was raised by Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi in the House on 3rd February, 2020.

Chairman Committee Senator A. Rehman Malik said that the residents should not be punished for any illegal act of the owners of the private housing societies. He said that houses constructed or being constructed which are not on state land or right of way should be provided utility connections in the ICT, Islamabad immediately. He said that the residence should be given one time waiver by the CDA. He also directed the Ministry of Interior to fix responsibility on those officers who remained silent on this matter since 2004 and even remained unable to act in accordance with directions of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Chairman expressed dissatisfaction on the briefing given by the CDA and SNGPL and directed them to present a comprehensive set of proposals to resolve the matter for provision of utility connections to the residents of the housing societies established in rural areas of ICT, Islamabad. He said that the matter of housing societies and facilities therein shall be taken up in the next meeting of the committee.

The Committee considered the matter related to Private Housing Societies that have encroached upon the Government Land in Lohi Bhair, Islamabad. The CDA submitted its report in writing on which Chairman expressed his dissatisfaction and said that it is a criminal negligence on the part of CDA that it remained silent on the mushroom growth of illegal housing societies in the capital. He pointed out that encroachment and illegal construction in sector E-11of Islamabad is the glaring example of incompetence and corruption in the CDA. He said that the issue of all illegal housing societies and the land encroached upon by them will be taken up in a separate meeting and CDA was directed to come up with details of all those who have encroached upon government lands in ICT, Islamabad.

The Committee considered the matter of seizure of an alleged ship involved in smuggling of oil from Iran into Pakistan at Port Qasim Karachi. The Ministry of Interior informed that the matter was taken up with Pakistan Coast Guards Karachi who have informed that the department doesn’t have firsthand information about the alleged ship involved in smuggling of oil into Pakistan. Chairman Committee directed Director General FIA that in coordination with concerned department submit a detailed report on the matter and brief the committee in next meeting. He directed that a copy of the report of American Watch Dog, copies of the forged documentation and its forensic report from an independent laboratory duly recognized and accredited by the Federal Government shall be provided to the committee. He asked that FIA identity that who is the importer in Pakistan and Middle Man involved in this deal and inform the committee if any past allegation on this importer for bringing sub-standard or illegal diesel and crude oil to Pakistan. He also directed that to provide the list of all those who have been supplying sub-standard diesel, crude oil and other petroleum products and how many cases have been registered for smuggling via Port Qasim Karachi and the number of cases registered against Oil companies involved in smuggling crude oil through Gawadar Port. He questioned about the detail of the arrival of crude oil and diesel available with the Port Qasim and the Collector Custom, Karachi during the current year. Chairman said that nothing can be concluded nor any country can be blamed until a thorough investigation is carried out into the matter.

The Islamabad Prevention of Beggary Bill, 2020 and The Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2020” introduced by Senator Mian Muhammad Ateeq Shaikh were deferred due to the absence of the mover. The matter of Demolition of Walls of the House of Senator Ch. Tanvir Khan in Phase-VII, Bahria Town, Rawalpindi” raised by Senator Muhammad JavedAbbasi was also considered in the meeting. Chairman Committee informed that Senators Javed Abbasi, Rana Maqbool Ahmed, Talha Mehmood and Mian Muhammad Ateeq Shaikh were nominated to visit the said location however because of Coronavirus outbreak they couldn’t do so. He said that the nominated Senators shall visit the location within sixty days and submit their report and recommendations to the committee.

The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Senator A. Rehman Malik here at the Parliament House and was attended among others by Senators Javed Abbasi, Rana Maqbool Ahmed, Azam Khan Swati, Sardar Shafiq Tareen, Dr. Shahzad Wasim, Kalsoom Perveen, Secretary Interior, DG NACTA, Additional Secretary Interior, Member Finance CDA, GM SNGPL, DC and CPO RAwalpindi and other officials from ministry of Interior, Islamabad Police.