Panel vows to pursue Sahiwal case till justice is served
Standing Committee on Interior condemns President Ashraf Ghani’s meddlesome tweet
Senate. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Senate Standing Committee on Interior on Friday said it would once again invite family members of the victims of January 19 Sahiwal tragedy if they were found unsatisfied with the ongoing probe into the alleged police encounter that left four people dead.
Chairing the meeting, Senator Rehman Malik said the committee had requested Prime Minister Imran Khan to constitute a judicial commission so that families of the victims could get justice. He said the committee would pursue the Sahiwal matter until justice is provided to the affected families.
Senator Javed Abbasi, a member of the panel, said a judicial commission had not been made on the tragedy so far. “What kind of government is this which says it will make a judicial commission but doesn’t form it? It appears it would make a commission after police destroyed all evidences,” he said.
Malik said the committee has written a letter to Imran Khan, who also holds portfolio of the interior minister. Committee will keep pursuing the matter until justice is served. Dispensing justice to people is this committee’s and the parliament’s job, he said.
Senate committee demands judicial probe into Sahiwal incident
Talking with reference to the plight of pilgrims visiting holy sites in Iran, Malik said there is a place for 4,000 people at Pakistan-Iran border in Raftan and there is a need to facilitate these pilgrims.
Additional secretary religious affairs said the Ministry of Religious Affairs is taking measures to carry out the exercise of facilitating the devotees in the style of Hajj. At present, there is no organised mechanism for these visitors who go to Iran through private agents.
Malik said: We need to legislate in this regard. Yesterday I took notice of issues of the pilgrims. Their issues must be resolved. The Ministry of Religious Affairs should immediately have a meeting with the Interior Ministry and adopt measures leading to resolution of their issues. He said for these pilgrims there should be proper legislation and laws like Hajj so that it can be regulated.
The committee also rejected Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s recent Twitter statement, saying it was factually baseless and a gross interference in Pakistan’s internal affairs.
The resolution said Pakistan is facing serious security threats, as terrorists groups are being sponsored and energised from the other side of the border.
“Pakistan persistently and with full sincerity has been supporting Afghanistan in their most difficult moments and hosting more than three million Afghans since last three decades.
“The present role of Pakistan in peace process is being recognised internationally whereas the tweet of President Ashraf Ghani is a clear interference in our internal affairs and it is self-confession of President Ghani in promoting violence in Pakistan,” the resolution said.
Sahiwal fallout: Senate panel proposes separate law for police encounters
The committee called upon the government to register a serious protest with Afghanistan and demand President Ashraf Ghani to withdraw his irresponsible statement immediately.
The committee also discussed the matter pertaining to difficulties being faced by Pakhtun citizens in obtaining the Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs). Malik asked the National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) to facilitate Pakhtun citizens in getting CNICs.
NADRA chairman said registration of citizens is a complex phenomenon especially in a country where a large number of refugees and aliens are residing. To deal with this challenge, NADRA has evolved a mechanism to verify the authenticity of citizens prior to registration and issuance of CNICs.
Individuals are required to provide documents as per registration policy and passed through verification checklist. In case of any doubt in national status, applicants are asked to provide documents.
Senate Standing Committee on Interior on Friday said it would once again invite family members of the victims of January 19 Sahiwal tragedy if they were found unsatisfied with the ongoing probe into the alleged police encounter that left four people dead.
Chairing the meeting, Senator Rehman Malik said the committee had requested Prime Minister Imran Khan to constitute a judicial commission so that families of the victims could get justice. He said the committee would pursue the Sahiwal matter until justice is provided to the affected families.
Senator Javed Abbasi, a member of the panel, said a judicial commission had not been made on the tragedy so far. “What kind of government is this which says it will make a judicial commission but doesn’t form it? It appears it would make a commission after police destroyed all evidences,” he said.
Malik said the committee has written a letter to Imran Khan, who also holds portfolio of the interior minister. Committee will keep pursuing the matter until justice is served. Dispensing justice to people is this committee’s and the parliament’s job, he said.
Senate committee demands judicial probe into Sahiwal incident
Talking with reference to the plight of pilgrims visiting holy sites in Iran, Malik said there is a place for 4,000 people at Pakistan-Iran border in Raftan and there is a need to facilitate these pilgrims.
Additional secretary religious affairs said the Ministry of Religious Affairs is taking measures to carry out the exercise of facilitating the devotees in the style of Hajj. At present, there is no organised mechanism for these visitors who go to Iran through private agents.
Malik said: We need to legislate in this regard. Yesterday I took notice of issues of the pilgrims. Their issues must be resolved. The Ministry of Religious Affairs should immediately have a meeting with the Interior Ministry and adopt measures leading to resolution of their issues. He said for these pilgrims there should be proper legislation and laws like Hajj so that it can be regulated.
The committee also rejected Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s recent Twitter statement, saying it was factually baseless and a gross interference in Pakistan’s internal affairs.
The resolution said Pakistan is facing serious security threats, as terrorists groups are being sponsored and energised from the other side of the border.
“Pakistan persistently and with full sincerity has been supporting Afghanistan in their most difficult moments and hosting more than three million Afghans since last three decades.
“The present role of Pakistan in peace process is being recognised internationally whereas the tweet of President Ashraf Ghani is a clear interference in our internal affairs and it is self-confession of President Ghani in promoting violence in Pakistan,” the resolution said.
Sahiwal fallout: Senate panel proposes separate law for police encounters
The committee called upon the government to register a serious protest with Afghanistan and demand President Ashraf Ghani to withdraw his irresponsible statement immediately.
The committee also discussed the matter pertaining to difficulties being faced by Pakhtun citizens in obtaining the Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs). Malik asked the National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) to facilitate Pakhtun citizens in getting CNICs.
NADRA chairman said registration of citizens is a complex phenomenon especially in a country where a large number of refugees and aliens are residing. To deal with this challenge, NADRA has evolved a mechanism to verify the authenticity of citizens prior to registration and issuance of CNICs.
Individuals are required to provide documents as per registration policy and passed through verification checklist. In case of any doubt in national status, applicants are asked to provide documents.