Daily Times

The Senate Standing Committee on Interior in its meeting on Thursday considered the matter of seizure of an alleged ship involved in smuggling of oil from Iran into Pakistan at Port Qasim Karachi.

The Ministry of Interior informed that the matter was taken up with Pakistan Coast Guards Karachi who have informed that the department doesn’t have firsthand information about the alleged ship involved in smuggling of oil into Pakistan.

Chairman Committee directed Director General FIA that in coordination with concerned department submit a detailed report on the matter and brief the committee in next meeting. He directed that a copy of the report of American Watch Dog, copies of the forged documentation and its forensic report from an independent laboratory duly recognized and accredited by the Federal Government shall be provided to the committee. He asked that FIA identity that who is the importer in Pakistan and Middle Man involved in this deal and inform the committee if any past allegation on this importer for bringing sub-standard or illegal diesel and crude oil to Pakistan.

He also directed that to provide the list of all those who have been supplying sub-standard diesel, crude oil and other petroleum products and how many cases have been registered for smuggling via Port Qasim Karachi and the number of cases registered against Oil companies involved in smuggling crude oil through Gawadar Port. He questioned about the detail of the arrival of crude oil and diesel available with the Port Qasim and the Collector Custom, Karachi during the current year. Chairman said that nothing can be concluded nor any country can be blamed until a thorough investigation is carried out into the matter.

Besides these, the Islamabad Prevention of Beggary Bill, 2020 and The Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2020” introduced by Senator Mian Muhammad Ateeq Shaikh were deferred due to the absence of the mover. The matter of Demolition of Walls of the House of Senator Ch. Tanvir Khan in Phase-VII, Bahria Town, Rawalpindi” raised by Senator Muhammad JavedAbbasi was also considered in the meeting. Chairman Committee informed that Senators Javed Abbasi, Rana Maqbool Ahmed, Talha Mehmood and Mian Muhammad Ateeq Shaikh were nominated to visit the said location however because of Coronavirus outbreak they couldn’t do so. He said that the nominated Senators shall visit the location within sixty days and submit their report and recommendations to the committee.

The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Senator A. Rehman Malik here at the Parliament House and was attended among others by Senators Javed Abbasi, Rana Maqbool Ahmed, Azam Khan Swati, Sardar Shafiq Tareen, Dr. Shahzad Wasim, Kalsoom Perveen, Secretary Interior, DG NACTA, Additional Secretary Interior, Member Finance CDA, GM SNGPL, DC and CPO RAwalpindi and other officials from ministry of Interior, Islamabad Police.