ISLAMABAD:
A Senate panel on human rights said on Saturday that the report of its sub-committee on the issue of enforced disappearances was still under discussion and the committee was yet to approve it.
“It will be premature to comment on the report,” said chairman of the Senate’s Human Rights Committee Senator Afrasiab Khattak, regarding media reports claiming the approval of the proposals immediately after its presentation to the full committee.
The committee in its meeting held on Friday distributed the report of its sub-committee on the issue of enforced disappearances among the members of the committee for their perusal and proposals, but the report was not approved by the committee.
Khattak denied the approval of the report without having discussed with the relevant ministries and members of the committee.
“The Senate’s Human Rights Committee formally took up consideration of the recommendations in its meeting held on Friday November 30 and the recommendations of the sub-committee were circulated among all members for study before its consideration by the committee,” Khattak said.
“The suggestion in the media reports that the Human Rights Committee has approved and adopted any proposed legislation in this regard is at best premature and does not reflect the factual decision taken at Friday’s meeting.”
The Human Rights Committee of the Senate had appointed a sub-committee in June to look into the issue of enforced disappearances and suggest ways and means to address the same.
The three-member sub-committee held meetings from time to time and after due deliberations made about half a dozen recommendations to address the issue for the consideration of the full committee within the stipulated period of 60 days of its formation.
The recommendations had taken into account the observations of the Supreme Court from time to time, the recommendations of the Commission on Enforced Disappearances and also the unanimous resolution adopted in the National Assembly in March and in the Senate earlier.
Khattak went on to say that after discussion and debate the Senate Human Rights Committee decided that since the issue of missing persons involved various stakeholders it was important that all were involved and taken on board in making final consolidated recommendations.
“The draft would be sent to ministries of defence, interior and human rights, after that, a public hearing on the will be held the issue, and finally it will be presented in the upper house for approval,” Khattak said.
Sub-committee’s recommendations
The special sub-committee recommended enacting suitable legislation to provide specific powers of arrest and detention to the army and law enforcement agencies under special circumstances, in order to curb anti-state activities.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 2nd, 2012.
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