ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Interior on Thursday summoned the prime minister’s secretary over the issue of an allegedly missing bill of Senator Irfan Siddiqui, pertaining to separation of judiciary from the executive by clipping judicial powers being enjoyed by bureaucrats posted in Islamabad district administration.
PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui raised the issue of his missing bill during meeting of Senate Standing Committee on Interior held here with its Chairman Senator Mohsin Aziz in the chair. The committee’s meeting convened to discuss proposed amendments to the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898.
The committee, however, then decided to take up the issue of the PML-N senator raised about his ‘missing bill’ titled: “Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill 2022.”
The meeting was attended by Senators Saifullah Abro, Sherry Rehman, Samina Mumtaz Zehri, Shahadat Awan, Danesh Kumar, Dilawar Khan, and Kamil Ali Agha. Notable participants also included Senators Mushtaq Ahmed and Palwasha Muhammad Zai Khan, who contributed as bill movers.
Additional Secretary and Joint Secretary Ministry of Interior, representatives from FIA, Ministry of Law, and CDA were also present
Meanwhile, Senator Saifullah Abro said the issue of the missing bill was a “mockery” of Parliament. “If the bill is in the PMO, call the PM’s secretary,” he demanded.
Abro further stated that the PM’s secretary would soon leave for a meeting with the World Bank.
Subsequently, the Senate committee summoned the secretary and sought a report on the “missing bill” from the PMO.
In June last year, after the Senate, the National Assembly also gave its consent to the bill that sought the separation of the judiciary and the executive by clipping the judicial powers of assistant commissioners, the deputy commissioner and the commissioner.
Talking about his bill, the PML-N senator said it was approved by both houses of Parliament but the “Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs says it was sent to the Prime Minister House on 21 June 2022”.
“Fifteen months have passed but the bill remains missing,” he claimed, adding that despite the passage of time, neither the parliamentary ministry nor the interior ministry questioned the whereabouts of the bill.
“This is an insult to Parliament, not me. Tell me, is there a house bigger than Parliament?”
After the approval from both houses, the bill was supposed to be sent to President Dr Arif Alvi for ratification, but, according to the mover, it “disappeared”.
During the Senate committee meeting today, Siddiqui recalled that he was arrested in 2019 and presented before a junior assistant commissioner who sent him to jail for 14 days.
Siddiqui was jailed for a couple of days in 2019 on the directive of an assistant commissioner (AC) in a case related to house rent. He was accused by police of not informing them while renting out his house, however, the senator at that time had stated that the house in question belonged to his son and he had nothing to do with it, alleging that the PTI government was victimising him.
One of the key topics of discussion was “the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2023,” moved by Senator Mumtaz Zehri specifically focused on providing proper treatment and medico examination reports for rape victims through public and private hospitals. After thorough deliberation, the Committee passed the bill with unanimous approval, incorporating essential amendments.
Another significant topic was Senator Mushtaq Ahmad’s proposed amendments to sections 375, 375A, and 376 of the PPC and Schedule-II of Cr. CP, aiming to omit section D and the public hanging of rapists. The bill was passed with majority votes and necessary amendments. Senators Sherry Rehman and Shahadat Awan expressed their concerns about the proposed punishment, emphasizing the need to avoid measures that might incite barbarism. The Ministry of Interior, in alignment with international treaties, opposed the bill.
The Committee also addressed the pressing issue of private jails and unanimously passed the “Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2023,” co-sponsored by Senators Mushtaq Ahmed and Samina Mumtaz Zehri. This bill seeks to deter false imprisonment and private jails within residences, an issue acknowledged by representatives from the Ministry of Law and the Ministry of Interior.
In the course of the session, the Committee also discussed other bills, including “The Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill 2023” moved by Senator Fawzia Arshad, related to the omission of section 124A of PPC and schedule-II of Cr. CP, which was temporarily rejected due to its subjudice status. Additionally, “The Federal Investigation Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2023” proposed by Senator Zarqa Suharwardy was also rejected.
Addressing environmental concerns, the Committee unanimously passed the “Rain Water Harvesting Facility in Urban Areas, Bill 2023,” moved by Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan. This legislation emphasizes the efficient utilization of rainwater, crucial in mitigating the depleting water table. CDA representative also supported the bill, acknowledging its potential to fortify existing regulations.
