No funds for research given to Senate committee

Secretary for Law and Justice told session that commission had never been given a rupee for conducting research

ISLAMABAD: Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice faced dire shortage of funds for research purpose, a meeting of the body held here on Wednesday was told.

Secretary for Law and Justice told the session presided over by Committee Chairman Senator Raza Rabbani that the commission had never been given a rupee for conducting research.

Expressing astonishment, Senator Musaddiq Malik questioned how the commission had prepared over a hundred research reports without funds.

The secretary said that the commission had only two researchers and the body only indulged in clerical work. He further said that it does not have the liberty to work on its own. An MoU signed with Oxford University remained pending for approval by the commission for the past four months, he added.



The secretary complained that the commission does not have off days even on Saturdays and Sundays. To this, the additional secretary for law ministry replied that officers of the commission were paid thrice the amount as others and deserved to work more.

Senator Musaddiq Malik demanded that the committee should be given a detailed briefing on the commission’s scope of work.

Chairman Rabbani censured the secretary for not presenting a detailed briefing on commission’s operations and powers.

The sub-committee for law and justice demanded the commission to present a detailed briefing in the next session.

The committee also reviewed the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan Ordinance 1979.



Secretary Law and Justice Commission told the committee that the commission had submitted 138 reports of which no action was taken on 74 reports. He added that 20 commissions had been formed on suo motos that were taken on human rights.

Chairman committee Raza Rabbani remarked that Article 184/3 does not fall under the purview of Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan Ordinance. Secretary Law and Justice Commission responded by saying that Article 184/3 is the authority of Supreme Court.

Secretary for Ministry of Law noted that several discrepancies occurred in law.