Rehman Malik-led Senate body condemns Kashmir citizenship law

Islamabad: The Senate Standing Committee on Interior in its meeting on Friday unanimously adopted resolutions strongly condemning the illegal and immoral steps by Indian government to change the demography of Indian Occupied Kashmir by allowing citizenship of Indian on very easy terms.

The Committee called upon the government to take more rigorous actions to counter the propaganda and illegal moves of the Indian government.

At the onset of the meeting, Senator A. Rehman Malik said that today is the 347th 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 said that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s brutalities are not only limited to the IOK but through RSS he is persecuting Muslims across the India. He urged the international community to intervene and stop the ongoing massacre of Muslims in India and Indian Occupied Kashmir. He reads the resolution as

“The Senate Standing Committee on Interior condemns the illegal and immoral steps being taking by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making demographic changes with the view to reduce the Kashmir population by allowing domicile on very easy terms enabling Indian citizens to show more Hindu population against the Muslims in the next census. The Senate Standing Committee on Interior calls upon the government to take up this matter with the United Nations and we also call upon the Prime Minister Modi to refrain from doing this illegal act in violation of United Nations Resolutions wherein right of self-determination has already been given to Kashmiri Muslim population of Indian Occupied Kashmir.” The resolution was unanimously passed by the Senate Standing Committee on Interior.

Chairman Committee Senator A. Rehman Malik expressed his fears that coronavirus cases will increase manifolds in upcoming days therefore the government to make strict and implementable SOPs for Eid-ul-Azha so that the spread of COVID-19 is controlled.

The Provincial Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill, 2020 introduced by Senator Faisal Javed Khan was discussed in the meeting. The bill called for inserting a new section 112AA in the Ordinance XIX of 1965 regarding offences and penalties related to emergency vehicles. Section 1,2,3 of the amendments proposed calling for giving clear and uninterrupted passage to ambulances and fire brigades, imposing fines on failure to comply and punishing people who use warning devices without authorization respectively were approved while sections 4,5,6 were withdrawn by the mover. Chairman Committee Senator A. Rehman Malik while appreciating the Bill introduced by Senator Faisal Javed said that introduction of such laws is the need of the hour.

The Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (omission of 124-A) introduced by Senator Mian Raza Rabbani was also discussed in the meeting. The mover briefed the committee about the scope of amendment which will omit the section 124-A. Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Interior Senator A. Rehman Malik said that since the Bill is of highest importance which needs a thorough deliberation. He decided to call federal secretary law and all provincial home secretaries in next meeting to further deliberate on the bill.

The matter of relief packages for businesses especially hotels and restaurants raised by Senator Muhammad Javed Abbasi was discussed in detail. Chairman Committee Senator A. Rehman Malik said that Coronavirus has affected people from all sections of society adding that government must announce a general relief package covering all. He urged the government to announce relief packages for traders, businessmen and laymen that all could be compensated equally.

He said that in first phase the small businessmen especially those who are running shops in markets and big malls should be accommodated for their loss during lockdown period.

The committee after hearing the mover and the relevant departments decided to give its recommendation in the House with a draft bill that government to take responsibility of helping small businesses in payment of rents and bills.

The Committee also sought a detailed briefing on the organisational structure of the Capital Hospital of CDA and the details of equipment available. Chairman CDA told the meeting that after COVID-19, 83 oxygenated beds were set up in the hospital and more arrangements for improving the facilities and infrastructure will be completed in six months. Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Interior Senator A. Rehman Malik directed the CDA to cancel its earlier advertisement for job and give the new advertisement per the directions of Ministry of Interior. He said that members’ quarries should be addressed properly in the next meeting of the committee.

Regarding lack of proper response by the Rawalpindi police in a car theft case, the Chairman committee asked Punjab police to look into the matter and inform the committee about reasons. He directed that police must learn as how to treat the public and those who come with sufferings to them.

The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Senator Abdur Rehman Malik here at the Parliament House and was attended among others by Senators Faisal Javed Khan, Javed Abbasi, Mian Ateeq Shaikh, Mian Raza Rabbani, Kalsoom Parveen, Sardar Shafiq Tareen, Chairman CDA and other officials from ministry of Interior, Islamabad Police, Punjab Police.