Senate panel for enhanced role of provincial CTDs

Suggests NACTA should lay its periodical reports in parliament

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Interior has recommended enhanced role for provincial Counter Terrorism Departments (CTDs) to improve coordination among the law enforcing agencies (LEAs) and to stop incidents of terrorism.

The committee chairman, Rehman Malik, made this recommendation in a report on the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2019. The bill was introduced by Senator Mian Ateeq Shaikh on September 2, 2019.

The report suggests that the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta) should lay its periodical reports in the parliament so that public representatives might oversee reviews and findings of the authority and formulate pragmatic proposals for the government as well as the LEAs.

The report maintained that in order to streamline the National Action Plan (NAP) against terrorism, a robust and synchronized cooperation should be sought. NAP was drafted in 2015 after a deadly attack on an army run school in Peshawar in Dec 2014.

Senator Azam Swati also laid before the Senate the first quarterly report of the board of directors of the State Bank of Pakistan on the state of Pakistan's economy for the year 2019-20, as required under section 9A(2) of the State Bank of Pakistan Act, 1956.

Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq presented report of the committee on the amendments in rules 130, 135, 143, 145, 162A, 167, 184, 196 and insertion of new rule 280 in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate.

The amendments were moved by Senator Quratulain Marri on December 18, 2018.

Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice Chairman Javed Abbasi presented the report of his committee on the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (Amendment of Article 260), introduced by Senator Naseebullah Bazai, on September 2, 2019.

Senators protest gas crisis in Sindh, Balochistan

The bill proposed that the service of President of Pakistan and Governors should not be declared as service of Pakistan so that they could become members of the parliament. The bill, however, was withdrawn by the senator after consultation with the members of the committee.

On a motion moved by Javed Abbasi, the house extended period for presentation of the report of his committee on the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (Amendment of Articles 1, 51, 59, 106, 175A, 198 and 218) by 60 days.

The amendments were introduced by Senators Bahramand Khan Tangi, Rubina Khalid, Imamuddin Shouqeen, Dr Sikandar Mandhro, Islamuddin Shaikh, Gianchand, Keshoo Bai, Mushtaq Ahmed, Sherry Rehman and Anwar Lal Dean on September 2, 2019.

On another motion of Abbasi, the house extended time for presentation of report of the committee on the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (Amendment of Articles 51 and 106) by 60 days.

The report was related to creation of new provinces and more seats for Balochistan in the parliament. On a motion of Functional Committee on Human Rights Chairman Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, the house also extended time for a period of 60 working days from January 30, 2020 for presentation of the report on the Maintenance and Welfare of Old Parents and Senior Citizens Bill, 201.

MLA Bill 2020

The Senate Committee on Interior Friday unanimously passed Mutual Legal Assistance (Criminal Matter) Bill 2020 “in view of its importance and the national interest of the country”.

The National Assembly has already passed, "The Mutual Legal Assistance (Criminal Matters) Bill, 2019 with majority vote. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Azam Khan Swati assured the members of the committee that their amendments would be incorporated within 60 days.

According to objects and reasons of the bill, "Increase in international organized crime has made it imperative for international community including Pakistan to improve effectiveness of legal instruments.

“Lack of uniformity in law and weak coordination mechanism between countries affect combating of crimes across borders. In order to overcome these challenges, legal cover is essentially required."