Senate amends law on counter-terror authority

Makes it compulsory for NACTA committee to meet every three months

ISLAMABAD: The upper house of parliament unanimously passed the amendment to National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta) Law on Monday, making it obligatory for the executive committee of the authority to meet at least once in three months to oversee the implementation of National Action Plan (NAP).

The amendment moved by Pakistan Peoples Party Senator Farhatullah Babar makes it mandatory for the executive committee to meet and oversee policy implementation involving all stakeholders in all the provinces.

The existing law does not stipulate when and how frequently the authority must meet.



Speaking on the amendment bill, Babar said that the board of governors headed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had not met once in the past over two years while the executive committee was not even mandated to meet regularly due to which fight against militancy had been gravely undermined.

He stated that this had also adversely affected the commission led by Justice Qazi Faiz Isa on the Quetta hospital carnage.

The upper house also passed the Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill, 2016, introduced by PPP Senator Sherry Rehman.

The bill ensures that barring women from exercising their right to vote would now be considered as criminal offence. “Now no jirga can prevent women from voting in the name of custom, tradition or fear,” declared the senator.

The senator said the passage of the bill was a ‘positive step forward’. “Despite the fact that a woman’s right to vote is constitutionally protected, they have faced multiple difficulties in exercising this fundamental right. This bill will ensure that every woman’s vote counts”.

Highlighting the significance of passing the bill, Rehman went on to say that “blatant violation of a woman’s constitutional right has been prevalent across the country. It is high time that the state criminalises such practices”.

She stated that it was necessary to wok further to challenge the legitimacy of an election where women were restricted from voting. “This will push leaders to take it upon themselves to guarantee that such practices are completely eradicated,” she added.

Rehman cited a number of reports which reveal women have been barred from exercising their electoral right by tribal elders.

“Citing custom and culture as an excuse to stop women from voting is unconstitutional as well. Every citizen of Pakistan has the right to vote and they should have the freedom to exercise this right without any constraints,” reiterated the senator.

“Making women a part of the election process will only strengthen our democracy. This will also give them a voice and raise their stakes in society,” she concluded.

Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2015 was also passed.   (ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM APP)

Published in The Express Tribune, January 10^th, 2017.