PHOTO: AFP
In case of any security lapse, the interior ministry would be held responsible, it maintained.
“We are fighting a war with Da’ish, Al-Qaeda, and Taliban. How we can ignore security measures?”, Chairman of the Senate’s Standing Committee on Interior Rehman Malik said.
Politicians facing threats to life should also be provided adequate security, he said.
The panel also directed the interior ministry to clearly differentiate between protocol and security and provide blanket security to Prime Minister Imran Khan, all federal ministers and other important dignitaries facing security threats.
“I would ask the media to stop playing to the gallery and make a clear distinction between protocol and security,” Senator Malik said.
He said that he was aware about a threat alert recently released by an intelligence agency, suggesting that Prime Minister Imran Khan and some important politicians were facing security threats.
Under the ‘Blue Book’ rules, he said it was binding upon the government to provide adequate security to the prime minister, federal ministers and other important dignitaries.
“‘Blue Book’ is part of the law and the government must amend the law, if it does not require security,” he said.
Govt promises ‘foolproof’ security for pilgrims to Iran
The committee also directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to probe into allegations of illegal operations of M/s Hadeed International Limited at Karachi Airport.
A private complainant against the company stated that the company opened its branch office in Pakistan and was illegally operating and managing a lounge at the Karachi airport.
He said that the Dubai-based company was given the contract in violation of rules.
Pointing out that under prevalent laws, companies, whose directors were foreign nationals, could not be allowed to operate in Pakistan.
The Director-General of the Civil Aviation Authority informed the committee that the Ministry of Interior had given an NOC, allowing the appointment of foreign directors in the company.
He said that the Board of Investment (BoI) had allowed Hadeed International to operate its branch office in Pakistan and it was registered with the SECP.
The committee also adopted a resolution stating: “The committee has noticed with great concern that Pakistan is being made soft target of allegations of money-laundering and being undermined by FATF (Financial Action Task Force) for not taking enough measures in this regard.”
“The committee firmly resolves that drug money is being laundered by Afghanistan which is a source of production and supply to the world whereas Pakistan is … a victim,” the resolution said.
It noted that most area in Afghanistan was under the control of the US forces. The committee stressed that drug production and supply should be stopped by the American forces and Pakistan should be absolved of all baseless allegations.
The resolution demanded that “steps taken by Pakistan in curbing money laundering, Pakistan’s contribution in war against terrorism must be acknowledged while any decision is taken against Pakistan.”
President Alvi draws flak over heavy protocols
PML-N Senator Javed Abbasi pointed out the alleged rigging in 2018 general election and remarked that the probe of the committee into the rigging should come to its logical end. “Form 45 for 90 per cent of constituencies is not present on the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) website,” he said.
Senator Rehman Malik said that ECP had informed the committee that it had formed an internal committee to determine who was actually responsible for the delay in the release of election results.
“This committee fully endorses the formation of the parliamentary commission to probe the allegations of rigging in the election,” he said.
The committee deferred the Islamabad Capital Territory Prohibition of Interest on Private Loans Bill, 2017 moved by Senator Sirajul Haq.
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