Islamabad, July 12, 2021 (PPI-OT):The Meeting of Senate Standing Committee on Interior was held under the Chairmanship of Senator Mohsin Aziz here at Parliament House Islamabad. The standing committee discussed “The Mutual Legal Assistance (Criminal Matters) (Amendment) Bill, 2021, referred by the house on 18 June 2021. Director-General FATF briefed the committee about The Mutual legal Assistance Bill in detail.
Senator Rana Maqbool Ahmad, Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar, Senator Shahadat Awan raised some observations on the bill. Standing Committee Interior after detailed deliberations passed the bill with a majority vote. Chairman Committee Senator Mohsin Aziz said that members committee can present their observations in writing and the bill can be amended at any time.
Senator Samina Mumtaz Convenier of the Senate Sub-committee on Interior submitted the progress report of the Sub-committee constituted on “The Islamabad Capital Territory Food Safety Bill 2020” the report was adopted by the Standing Committee.
On the issue of the dilapidated condition of the corridors, galleries, open spaces of the Parliament Lodges the members of the committee shows their serious reservations of the situation and over the absence of chairman CDA in the standing committee meeting. Members of the committee were of the view that in the absence of the concerned authority it would not be fruitful to discuss the dilapidated condition of the lodges. Chairman committee Senator Mohsin Aziz directed that chairman CDA ensured his presence in the next meeting.
Deputy Director Immigration informed the committee about the status of the directions of honourable Chairman Senate Mohammad Sadiq Sanjrani regarding the amendments in the passport and visa manual 2006. He told the committee that all the suggestions will be incorporated within the next two months.
The matter of public petition regarding “Redressal of Grievance” referred by honourable Chairman Senate was discussed in detail. Director FIA briefed the committee about the matter and said that it was a business deal. He told the committee that the matter cannot come under the ambit of FIA to deal with such cases. Chairman committee Senator Mohsin Aziz directed that FIA should get guidelines from the Ministry of Law to handle the matter; he said that same category cases are increasing day by day and it would also be a good gesture for the overseas Pakistanis to feel protected in their homeland.
Senator Saifullah Abro rose the matter of the lawlessness prevailing in Larkana and other parts of the province in detail. He said that IG Sindh doesn’t bother to attend parliamentarian’s calls, and his behaviour is not acceptable. If IG does not give importance to Parliamentarians what will happen to the common citizens. Upon this Chairman committee directed IG Sindh to appear before the committee to clear the matter in the next meeting.
Senator Syed Faisal Ali Sabzwari rose the recent harassment case of Usman Mirza in the meeting which was viral on social media in Islamabad. The standing committee took Sou Moto action on the matter and decided to get a detailed briefing from the concerns in the next meeting.
The Standing Committee meeting was attended by Senators Rana Maqbool Ahmad, Azam Nazeer Tarar, Moula Bux Chandio, Saifullah Abro, Samian Mumtaz, Faisal Saleem Rahman, Shahadat Awan, Fawzia Arshad, Syed Faisal Ali Subzwari, Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti, Dilawar Khan, Additional Secretary Interior, Director General FATF, Director FIA, DD immigration and another concerned officer.
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