Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Rejecting the recommendations of a departmental committee, lawmakers on Tuesday directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to take stern action against officers involved in beating up two women passengers at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport.

The lawmakers expressed these views during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control, which met at Parliament House. The meeting was chaired by Rana Shamim Ahmed Khan. The committee expressed serious concern over the April 15 incident and recommended stern action against top FIA officials instead of making a “constable a scapegoat”.

Earlier on Monday, an FIA committee had removed from service one employees involved in the brawl and recommended disciplinary action against two others. The Supreme Court of Pakistan and the FIA DG had taken notice after a video of the incident went viral on social media. The video showed two FIA female officers scuffling with two women passengers. The video showed the FIA constables dragging the passengers as they cried for help.

According to the FIA report on the incident, Haseena Begum, along with her two daughters, was on her way to Norway when she complained to an FIA official about the lack of toilet paper in the restrooms.

When the officer rudely refused to help her, Haseena slapped her. The passengers were then confronted by FIA official Nausheeba and Ghazala Shaheen who assaulted Haseena and her daughter. Following the incident, both parties filed cases against each other.

On Tuesday, the NA committee asked the FIA Islamabad Zone director to appear before it to brief parliamentarians about the inquiry report. The committee expressed anger over not tacking action against high-ranking officials. MNA Salman Baloch said that the scuffle had not resulted due to lack of toilet paper. “The passengers got upset after they saw the FIA staff filming them on their mobile phone,” he said.

Dr Arif Ali said that the agency must inform the parliamentary body about the action it had taken against the FIA official who was making the video. “Why did the FIA register FIRs against these passengers? Under which law were they offloaded from the flight?” he questioned.

Witness Protection Bill: The committee also unanimously passed The Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Bill 2016, seeking protection of witnesses, judges, councils and public prosecutors.

“Keeping in view the aggravated feeling of insecurity prevalent in the society and the threats to the witnesses by terrorists and organised groups of criminals, it is recommended to endorse the bill. The bill helps in establishing a social structure where anyone can stand in the witness box without fear of retaliation to him, his family or property by hardened criminals,” a brief submitted by FIA before the committee stated.

According to the statement of objects and reasons of the bill, witnesses need to have the confidence to come forward to assist law enforcement and prosecutorial authorities. They need to be assured that they will receive support and protection from intimidation and the harm that criminal groups may seek to inflict upon them in attempts to discourage or punish them from cooperating.

Similarly, inadequate protection to the judges, prosecutors, etc dealing with the anti-terrorism cases has been identified as one of the major causes impeding the disposal of cases. The draft bill will ensure that the government shall formulate and implement a comprehensive programme for the protection of judges, members, councils, public prosecutors, witnesses and every other person associated with the investigation or trial of the case.

The committee also passed The Land Acquisition (Amendment) Bill 2016, seeking to fix a time frame for acquisition of land for hosing societies and The Anti Terrorism (Amendment) Bill moved by MNA Surriay Asghar, seeking to formulate to formulate a programme for the protection of judges, members councils, public prosecutors, witnesses and every other person associated with the investigation or trial of the case.

The committee also asked Ministry of Interior to contact Sindh Police to provide security to MQM Pakistan MNA Salman Khan Baloch who had received threatening messages.