Rehman Malik chairs meeting to discuss national issues

Islamabad: The meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior was held on Monday in the Parliament House under the Chairmanship of Senator A. Rehman Malik.

“The Cooperative Societies Amendment Bill 2020” was considered in the meeting of the committee. The committee approved the Bill after a detailed review and discussion however Senator Farooq H Naik agreed with the objects and reasons of the Bill with his dissenting note. Thereafter the Chairman put the Bill before the Committee which was approved with majority. Senator Rehman Malik said that we have to enact necessary legislation as per the demand of FATF as being on its grey list is a national issue. He said that it is very important and national duty to get Pakistan out of the FATA’s Grey List.

The committee strongly condemned the incident of rape of a woman on the Sialkot and Lahore, expressed great concerns over it. Chairman Senator A. Rehman Malik expresses that it was very unfortunate incident and the committee would conduct a detailed inquiry into it as it has pursued the Zainab’s Case to its logical conclusion. Members of the committee also demanded a transparent inquiry into the incident and said that those involved in this heinous crime should be severely punished. Senator A. Rehman Malik informed the committee that he has sent a questionnaire to the Ministry of Interior seeking a detailed reply on it. He said that justice must be delivered to the victim.

The committee decided to convene a special meeting on September 21 and directed that IG Punjab, CCPO Lahore and concerned authorities appear before the committee to apprise the members on the incident. He said that all legal aspects were reviewed and he included in the questionnaire. He also directed the official to submit the reply on 30 questions with 3-days to the committee. The committee asked the following question that what was the exact time & date of the horrible incident. The time of the entry of the car of the lady from Toll Plaza and exact location of the unfortunate incident on the motorway?

When this motorway (Lahore – Sialkot) was got completed and opened for public? Who is responsible for opening of the motorway without deployment of motorway police, security and other facilities? Who is responsible for the maintenance of the side fence of the motorway? Who was first police official who reached there, police, special branch or any intelligence agency?

How was it presumed that the rape has been done by the persons from the local area? How many telephone calls have been traced and investigated around the areas of incident before and after 3 hours of the incident?

List of the officials deployed from special branch, police, Motorway Police and any other department included in the investigations? In the instant case and the possibility of involvement of nearby persons should be there as the main suspect may be there. Is the Google mapping of the said particular radius of the said location done?

The toll plaza to be checked as to how many cars entered from the same entrance within 10 minutes after passing of the car? The possibility of follow up of the lady by the rapists must not be ignored, as they found the lady alone in the car at night time. Nadra to assist the Punjab Police and analysing the finger prints not only from the order and from the scene but also provide the finger prints from the villagers within 3 kilometers and both sides of the motorway. It may be determined if the car had any technical fault in addition to the patrol shortage?he Secretary Communication/Chairman NHA to inform the reasons of the failure of the deployment of the relevant staff for the convenience of the public or what action has been taken if they were absent from the duty. The committee staff and the concerned departments have been directed to ensure the secrecy of the investigation so that the investigation is not compromised.

Senator Azam Swati said that decisions on such incidents should be taken within three months. Senator Rana Maqbool said that the anti-terrorism law has to take a decision within seven days but it is not happening. Senator Kulsoom Parveen and others also strongly condemned the incident and demanded exemplary punishment for the accused. Senator Rehman Malik said that this is a serious crime and its punishment should be very severe. Committee termed the CCP Lahore statement termed as irresponsible and irrelevant adding that no government official has the authority to make such a statement.

Chairman Committee on Interior Senator Rehman Malik also directed that the police officers who are patronizing the construction mafia, occupation mafia and drug mafia would be exposed and the committee would soon direct the concerned agencies to take action against them. The meeting was attended by Senators Fariq H Naik, Rana Maqbool Ahmed, Sardar Shafiq Tareen, and Kulsoom Parveen and Federal Minister Azam Swati besides officials of Ministry of Interior and concerned officials.

Senate Standing Committee on Interior will meet again tomorrow on September 16, 2020 to consider “The Anti- Terrorism (Third Amendment) Bill, 2020.