NA rules unanimously on missing persons resolution, curb role of agencies
Eight member committee constituted to work out comprehensive framework.
ISLAMABAD:
The National Assembly (NA) on Wednesday unanimously adopted a resolution seeking to evolve a comprehensive framework to regulate the role and functioning of security agencies.
The resolution moved by the opposition MNA Zahid Hamid was not opposed by the government as agreed at the Business Advisory Committee and the House adopted it with unanimously.
The House also approved to constitute an eight-member committee of the House with equal representation from both the treasury and the opposition benches to monitor progress on the issue of missing persons.
The House authorised the Speaker National Assembly to constitute the committee in consultation with the Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition.
Zahid Hamid in the resolution had stated that it pertained to the plight of the families of the missing persons and the grave allegations against Pakistan’s security agencies over missing persons.
The resolution demanded that the government ensure prevalence of rule of law and to implement without further delay the observations of the Supreme Court as well as recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry on forced disappearances for enactment of necessary legislation. It urged the government to resolve the issue of missing persons and implement the recommendations of the Commission of inquiry on the murder of journalist Saleem Shahzad.
The House also resolved that the Committee of the House shall prepare a report after deliberations with the families of the missing persons and representatives of security agencies and submit it to the House within two months.
Later, Opposition Leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan raised this issue in the House and said, the House owed such an action for years. The notorious practice was started during former President Pervez Musharraf's era. These people are Pakistanis and deserve justice according to law of the land, Nisar said.
When Interior Minister Rehman Malik tried to reply to the point of the Leader of the Opposition, Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi advised him to present his stance at the House committee being constituted for the purpose.
The National Assembly (NA) on Wednesday unanimously adopted a resolution seeking to evolve a comprehensive framework to regulate the role and functioning of security agencies.
The resolution moved by the opposition MNA Zahid Hamid was not opposed by the government as agreed at the Business Advisory Committee and the House adopted it with unanimously.
The House also approved to constitute an eight-member committee of the House with equal representation from both the treasury and the opposition benches to monitor progress on the issue of missing persons.
The House authorised the Speaker National Assembly to constitute the committee in consultation with the Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition.
Zahid Hamid in the resolution had stated that it pertained to the plight of the families of the missing persons and the grave allegations against Pakistan’s security agencies over missing persons.
The resolution demanded that the government ensure prevalence of rule of law and to implement without further delay the observations of the Supreme Court as well as recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry on forced disappearances for enactment of necessary legislation. It urged the government to resolve the issue of missing persons and implement the recommendations of the Commission of inquiry on the murder of journalist Saleem Shahzad.
The House also resolved that the Committee of the House shall prepare a report after deliberations with the families of the missing persons and representatives of security agencies and submit it to the House within two months.
Later, Opposition Leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan raised this issue in the House and said, the House owed such an action for years. The notorious practice was started during former President Pervez Musharraf's era. These people are Pakistanis and deserve justice according to law of the land, Nisar said.
When Interior Minister Rehman Malik tried to reply to the point of the Leader of the Opposition, Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi advised him to present his stance at the House committee being constituted for the purpose.