Senate body calls for heightened security on Afghan border

Senate Standing Committee on Interior on Monday called for the enhancement of security measures along Pak-Afghan border. Whiling passing a unanimous resolution condemning the attack on Directorate of Agricultural Institute in Peshawar which killed 12 innocent lives and injured 30 others, the committee recommended the government of Pakistan to take up this matter with the government of Afghanistan as chief terrorists like Mullah Fazalullah and others are sponsoring terrorism from Afghanistan inside Pakistan.
The committee also demanded the Government of Pakistan to take up with INTERPOL the issue of Fazalullah and other terrorists hidden in Afghanistan in order to pressurize Afghanistan to handover these terrorists to Pakistan.
The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Senator Rehman Malik. The chairman committee also asked the Ministry of Interior and Foreign Office to look into some tweets signaling possibility of more such attacks. The resolution stated, "Senate Standing Committee on Interior strongly condemns the painful terror attack on Agriculture Training Institute, Peshawar, wherein on December 01, 2017, 12 innocent people including students were martyred and some 35 were injured. Senate Standing Committee prays for the eternal peace of the departed souls of martyrs and expresses heartfelt condolences and sympathies with victim families."
The committee expressed grave concerns over the recent wave of terrorism across the country and demanded the government through Ministry of Interior to review the National Action Plan (NAP) and its implementation since its formation in 2014.
Regarding the Criminal Laws (Amendment) (Protection of Rights of Transgender Persons) Bill, 2017, moved by Senator Rubina Khalid, the committee after hearing the mover, Law Division and Council of Islamic Ideology referred the bill to CII and asked the Council to give a clear answer in affirmative or negative on the bill with proper justification. The chairman committee remarked that Chairman CII should attend the next meeting himself.
The committee also held a detailed discussion on the matter of action being taken against the Turk citizens living in Pakistan having valid and legal visas. The matter was moved by Senator Muhammad Ali Khan Saif who said that Pakistan is a signatory to numerous international conventions which provide for protection of all such foreigners residing legally in a state who have a fear of trial in their own country. The senator said that it has been reported in the press that many Turks, who had legal work permits, have been deported without giving them due time to have a fair trial before deportation.
The minister for state told the meeting that only those people have been deported who did not have any legal cover and if any such case has occurred, it is not in knowledge of Interior Ministry. Joint secretary from the ministry told the committee that 175 Turks have left the country on their own will while around 219 are currently residing in the country. The mover was not satisfied with this answer and the chairman committee decided to defer the matter till the next meeting asking the ministry to provide details of any trial ongoing in court and also to take up the matter with the Turkish government. The mover will also bring details if available about any such cases.
The meeting was given a briefing by FIA regarding enquiries referred to the agency by CDA against cooperative housing societies, which have over-sold plots against non-available plots. Director FIA told the meeting that action is currently being taken up against Multi Professional Cooperative Housing Society E-11, Pak Medical Cooperative Housing Society E-11, Jammu & Kashmir Cooperative Housing Society G-15, and Soan Gardens Cooperative Housing Society Zone-V.
The chairman committee asked FIA to give details in the next meeting about what violations formed the basis of registering FIRs and also decided to hear chairman CDA on the matter in the next meeting.