Senate panel to question IGs on lawlessness in provinces

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Committee on Interior and Narcotics unanimously passed two bills to increase the penalties for rape offenders and to prevent the heinous crime of ‘necrophilia’ and proposed severe punishment for the offense.

The Senate Committee on Interior and Narcotics passed the “Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2024” and the “Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024.” Senator Mohsin Aziz, the mover of the Pakistan Penal Code Bill (Amendment) Bill, 2024l, stated that the bill aims to increase the penalties for rape offenders with the intent of rooting out this menace from society. Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri highlighted that the Criminal Laws Bill (Amendment) Bill, 2024 aimed to prevent the heinous crime of ‘Necrophilia’ and proposed severe punishment for the offense.

The meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control was presided over by Chairman Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman and discussed the alarming law and order conditions in Sindh, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman stated that people have lost their loved ones at the hands of this menace, and yet we have been reminded of the 18th Amendment when the issue was highlighted in the committee. He reiterated that the committee would have a threadbare discussion on the issue, as the lives of millions are at stake and the issue has attained the momentum of a ‘national issue.’ Rehman said they would summon the provincial IGs to discuss the issue.

Secretary for Interior, Muhammad Khurram Agha, assured support for conducting meetings in the provinces. While discussing the unprecedented increase in drug use in academic institutions, the DG ANF highlighted the efforts of ANF in uprooting this menace.

He underlined the role of provinces in controlling the drug usage and stated that the provincial coordination is incumbent in making institutions drug free. The chairman acknowledged the efforts of DG ANF and extended committee support in controlling this menace. The committee was informed that the Ministry of Narcotics Control was abolished and turned into a division of the Ministry of Interior and helped save Rs183 million.

The Committee highlighted the increasing crime ratio in ICT and fake calls received by Senators. IG ICT, Syed Nasir Ali Rizvi, apprised the committee that the gang involved in fake calls had been arrested, and it was found during the investigation that the accused used ‘True Caller’ and ‘Eyeon’ to make such calls. The Committee appreciated the efforts of IG ICT in tackling the matter efficiently.

The Senate Committee on Interior discussed several other bills and deferred them owing to the delayed and opaque response of the Interior and Law divisions. They included The Control of Narcotics Substances (Amendment) Bill, 2024, The Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2024, The Societies Registration (Amendment) Bill, 2025, The Shamilat Land Protection Bill, 2024, The Price Control and Prevention of Profiteering and Hoarding (Amendment) Bill, 2024, The Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

The Senate Committee on Interior was also briefed on the workings of the Gilgit Baltistan Scouts. Officials informed that the GB Scouts are primarily tasked with the protection of the Diamer Basha Dam and Chinese nationals working on the Dam. Besides, GB Scouts engage with the youth and make necessary endeavors for the provision of health and education to the residents. The Committee acknowledged the efforts of the GB Scouts in maintaining law and order and extended support for their future initiatives.