Senate body passes Protection of Pakistan Bill, 2014

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing on Interior and Narcotics Control on Wednesday unanimously passed Protection of Pakistan Bill, 2014.

The committee, which met here at Parliament House, was chaired by Talha Mehmood. Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Pervaiz Rashid, senators Sardar Ali Khan, Col (retd) Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi and Sardar Fateh Muhammad Hasni, Minister of Science and Technology Zahid Hamid, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Kh Zaheer Ahmed, Senior Legislation Advisor Malak Hakam Khan, Attorney General for Pakistan and senior officials of Interior ministry.

The committee discussed in details various clauses of the bill and agreed on enactment of the bill with amendment in clause that Grade 15 officers of Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) would be authorized to issue shoot-out order.

Senator Pervaiz Rashid, who is also Law and Justice Minister, speaking on the occasion as member of the committee said the trend of crimes had changed and now there was need to enact new laws according to the requirement of today.

He said misuse of law in presence of powerful media, judiciary and parliament was not possible.

Pervaiz Rashid said that on the pretext of misuse, it could not be rejected because all laws could be misused. He said a lot of efforts had been made for preparation of the bill and it should be acknowledged.

He said that he was in favour of the bill's promulgation for three years, but if all members agreed on two years so it was fine.

Earlier, Zahid Hamid briefed the committee on various clauses of the bill and said that this was very essential for the law enforcement agencies for giving legal cover due to the situation confronted by the country. He said the bill would be promulgated for two years period.

Earlier, the committee discussed the cation taken by FIA on alleged tax evasion and theft of Sui gas by a company based in Multan. The officials informed the committee that the matter was being investigated and the report would be presented to the committee within a few days.