ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Friday passed the Gas Theft Control and Recovery Bill 2014 to further strengthen the law aimed at checking gas theft and pilferage, as well as expediting the recovery process of gas dues.
After being passed by the upper house, the bill will now be sent to the National Assembly for ratification.
The bill was moved by Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, and provides a procedure for the prosecution of those involved in gas theft and other offences relating to gas pilferage.
The bill also provides a recovery procedure for outstanding amount of dues.
The new law will also provide a procedure for expeditious recovery of amount, due, value of gas, fines, penalties and other outstanding amounts payable and sums due to gas utility companies, a move that aims to lessen circular debt.
Debate on Peshawar school attack
The house, on a unanimously agreed motion, continued with debate over the Army Public School attack in Peshawar on December 16.
While taking part in the debate, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) Senator Mushahid Hussain said that the attack was an attack on Pakistan’s future, and an eye opener for every citizen to play their part in coping with the challenging situation.
He accused the government of wasting time by not implementing its own internal security policy for a year.
Further, the PML-Q senator lamented that the country is in a state of war, but it has no counter-terrorism policy to tackle it.
However, he added that after the sacrifices given by the 133 school children and their teachers in Peshawar, had brought the political and military leadership on to the same page about ending militancy and terrorism.
Hussain suggested there should be a permanent parliamentary committee which oversees implementation of the joint action committee’s recommendations.
“It is the first time that the narrative of good and bad Taliban and the concept of strategic depth has been buried,” said Hussain.
He further called for 2015 to be declared as the year of “national resolve” to fight against the menace of terrorism and extremism.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Hamza criticised his own government for what he described as its failure to take concrete steps against those who were behind the Peshawar carnage.
“What action was taken with regard to the Afghan government more than a week after militants announced that they are in Afghanistan?” he asked.
“It is the responsibility of the government to tell the people what it is doing to punish those who have butchered our new generation.”
“I condemn this attitude of our government,” he stated.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Saeeda Iqbal said the government has taken no action against Lal Masjid cleric Abdul Aziz or his followers after they denounced the state by openly inviting the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
“Instead of putting him behind bars, the government has provided armed guards [to a person] who openly invites other terrorist groups,” she maintained.
Senator Zahid Khan called for stern action against proscribed outfits in order to eliminate terrorism.
Denouncing the gruesome Peshawar incident, he said the federal and provincial governments should fulfill their responsibilities of protecting the lives and properties of people.
Osman Saifullah Khan said Pakistan is in a state of war, and is fighting for its survival.
“We have to identify who our enemy is, as those spreading sectarianism are the real enemies of the country,” he said. “We should be united against these elements to win the war on terror.”
Minister of State Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri said the Peshawar tragedy, which is unprecedented in country's history, has united the entire nation.
Haideri said the prime minister promptly took all parties into confidence after the attack.
Saeed Ghani said a national consensus is necessary to root out terrorism, and the government should refrain from steps which could undermine the solidarity expressed by the opposition parties in the wake of the Peshawar tragedy.
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