NA body on Interior approves ‘Anti-Terrorism (Amend) Bill, 2019’

ISLAMABAD: The Standing Committee of the National Assembly on Interior on Monday approved the “The Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2019” with majority vote and now it would be presented before the National Assembly for its passage.

The meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly on Interior was held with the chair of its Chairman Raja Khurram Nawaz here at the Parliament House on Monday. Two members of the Committee belonging to PPP Abdul Qadir Patel and Agha Rafiullah opposing the bill said what will be the guarantee that this law will not be used against the political victimization.

Interior Minister Brig (R) ijaz Shah said the bill ‘The Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997, though comprehensive in its scope, lacks certain provisions and through this its scope widen on transfer of funds through Hundi or any other illegal mean.

The issue of granting dual nationality to Pakistanis living in Malaysia was discussed and the Ministry informed that the case has been referred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to initiate negotiation with the government of Malaysia on the issue for facilitating the Expatriates.

The Member P&D Capital Development Authority briefed the Committee about the issue of buildings sealed in Golra/E-11 Islamabad.

He informed that the Islamabad High Court in its judgment dated 09-07-2018 declared these constructions illegal. In compliance of the judgment the Federal Government constituted a Commission to review the existing Master Plan of Capital City.

The Federal Commission has recommended regularization of existing structures through a study by independent consultant.

The federal cabinet has also approved the recommendation and accordingly draft request for hiring consultant has been submitted to the Planning Commission. The Committee directed to expedite the process to provide a solution to affectees.

The representative of the Federal Employees Cooperative Housing Society (FECHS) briefed the Committee about the joint venture between FECHS and National Assembly Employees Cooperative Housing Society (NAECHS). The Committee was informed that land of the NAECHS has been encroached. The FECHS informed that the society faced issues in demarcation.

The Committee directed the Deputy Commissioner to resolve the demarcation issues of the society. The Committee also directed the FECHS to provide plots to the members of NAECHS and submit report to the Committee. The Committee also decided to invite FIA in the next meeting for briefing the Committee on the case referred to it.

The meeting was attended by Sher Akbar Khan, Sardar Talib Hassan Nakai, Ms. Nafeesa Inayatullah Khan Khattak, Malik Sohail Khan, Nadeem Abbas, Syed Agha Rafiullh, Abdul Qadir Pateland, the senior officers from the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Law and Justice, Ministry of Finance, ICT and National Counter Terrorism Authority.