ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Interior in its meeting on Thursday condemned the terror attack on an army vehicle and US President Donald Trump’s decision of recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
The Chairman Senate Committee on Interior Senator A. Rehman Malik moved a resolution which was unanimously passed by the members of the committee. The resolution stated “Senate Standing Committee on Interior strongly condemns the terror attack on army vehicle in North Waziristan on December 12, 2017 in which Second Lieutenant Abdul Moeed and Sepoy Basharat were martyred. This committee pays rich tribute to the martyrs of the nation, prays for their departed souls and expresses heartfelt condolences and sympathies with their families.”
Senate Standing Committee on Interior strongly condemns the US President Donald Trump’s decision of recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Muslim Ummah is facing terrorism across the world particularly Middle East and Pakistan are worst victim of terrorism and there is dire need of interfaith harmony and decision of Donald Trump has hurt the process of interfaith harmony which will harm world’s efforts towards peace.”
The Chairman of Committee Senator A. Rehman Malik constituted a sub-committee headed by Senator Barrister Muhammad Ali Khan Saif to consider the bill titled “Anti Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2017 moved by Senator Barrister Murtaza Wahab and Senator Mukhtiar Ahmed Dhamrah aimed at witness protection in Pakistan. The sub-committee will look into the subject bill and take input from Law Division and Ministry of Interior on any existing or already proposed legislation in this regard.
The meeting was held under the Chairmanship of Senator Abdul Rehman Malik here in Islamabad and was attended amongst others by Senators Sardar Fateh Muhammad Muhammad Hasani, Muhammad Ali Khan Saif, Murtaza Wahab, Mir Israrullah Khan Zehri, Rubina Khalid, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, Secretary Interior, SSP Islamabad, officials of ministry of law & justice and also by renowned lawyers Ms. Asma Jehangir and Advocate Sadia Nooren Malik who apprised the meeting on deported Turkish teachers.
The Committee also offered Fateha for the departed souls of Second Lieutenant Abdul Moeed and Sepoy Basharat and expressed heartfelt condolences and sympathies with their families. Committee paid rich tribute to the martyrs of the nation for their sacrifices and asked the government to implement the National Action Plan in its true spirits.
The Committee also discussed in detail the issue of action being taken against Turk citizens living in Pakistan having valid and legal visa moved by Senator Muhammad Ali Khan Saif. The attorney of some Turks Ms. Asma Jahangir told the meeting that her clients were handcuffed from their house in September this year despite a government assurance that they will not be deported until November 2017 and they were reportedly taken into custody by Turkish police and taken to Istanbul. However, Ministry of Interior and Police and FIA have claimed that they do not have any knowledge of their being sent to Turkey without Passports. Adocate Sadia Norren Malik said that Turkish teachers had nothing to do with the politics of either country and victimized them for the wrongdoing of any is injustice. Chairman Committee Senator A. Rehman Malik summoned Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s representative to brief the committee over the deportation of Turkish teachers last year. He also gave directions to the Interior Ministry to give detailed information on who took them to Turkey, what kind of flight they took, what numbers of Turks have been deported and what number is still in Pakistan, and under what agreement the administration of the schools has been transferred. The Committee decided to call Secretary Foreign Affairs, Secretary Interior, Secretary Civil Aviation, Secretaries Education and representative of PM Office also to the next meeting.
The committee chairman Senator A. Rehman Malik expressed great annoyance over the absence of Chairman Council of Islamic Ideology and passed the direction if he continues to remain absent from the meeting, the committee will move against him in the Senate and may bring privilege motion against him. He said that there are three important Bills pending for which the opinion of Chairman CII is needed but he is continuously ignoring to attend the committee meeting.
SSP Sajid Keyani apprised the meeting over the incident of attack on journalist Ahmed Noorani and the Committee gave one month time for furnishing a report on the incident of attack on Ahmed Noorani. Chairman Committee also sought list of any and all other similar incidents. Discussion on bills and questions were deferred due to absence of movers. Discussion on Madrassah reforms and NACTA will be taken up in a separate meeting in the first week of January.
Published in Daily Times, December 15th 2017.