It is being made in pursuance of the implementation of the National Action Plan.
Tenants and landlords in Sindh will have to submit a copy of their rent agreement and other details to the local police station within 48 hours of striking the deal.
This practice will become mandatory soon as the government has finalised a draft of the 'Sindh Information of Temporary Residents Bill 2015', which is likely to be passed in the current assembly session.
The law, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, is being made in pursuance of the implementation of the National Action Plan to curb terrorism prevailing in the country. After this law is passed, the government will regulate the provision of information on tenants and other temporary residents to effectively combat terrorism and other crimes, and to use this information to investigate and prosecute certain offenses.
"The properly dealer, the landlord and the tenant will have to inform the relevant police station within 48 hours about the [rent] agreement," stated the draft. The owner or the manager of any hotel or guest house will be bound to inform the police about the guests within three hours of their time of arrival or check-in.
The landlord of any house or the manager of any hotel will ensure that the tenant or guest is not carrying a firearm or any explosives other than licensed weapons, explained Sindh law and parliamentary affairs minister Dr Sikandar Mandhro. A police officer, not below the rank of a DSP, will be maintaining the data on the rights, transfer deeds or other documents he added.
"Any person who knowingly contravenes the law, fails to allow access to the premises or provides incorrect information to the police will be liable to punishment, which may be extended to six months and a fine that shall be no less than Rs10,000 but not more than Rs45,000," said Mandhro as he gave a briefing on the penalties.
This law may appear to be an inconvenience at first but residents and property dealers have welcomed the move. Sajjid Qazmi, who lives in Defence Phase II, said that the management of his apartments has already started this practice since last month. Qazmi recently rented out a flat to a tenant with proper registration at the police station. "Our property dealer submitted the agreement and copies of the national identity cards of the tenant and my wife, who is the owner of the house," he explained. "This is a good practice because everything will now be in police knowledge."
A property dealer on DHA's Khayaban-e-Mujahid, Mukhtiar Ahmed, recalled a police encounter few months ago in which some foreigners involved in dubious activities were arrested. The house owner and the property dealer had to suffer as they had not informed the police of the tenants. "We welcome this decision," he added.
Stay at hostels
A person, who is not a student or a staff member of the organisation or institute that manages the hostel, cannot stay at the facility without prior written permission from the manager, stated the draft of the law.
The landlord, manager or the property dealer has to obtain a copy of the computerised national identity card or passport of the tenant and provide a copy to the police station. The police have to maintain a database of all the tenants and guests categorising them in the prescribed manner.
"A police officer, not below the rank of a sub-inspector, will be assigned the task of inspecting the rented premises, hostel or hotel in their jurisdiction and obtain the relevant documents," said Dr Mandhro.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 12th, 2015.
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