ISLAMABAD: A senate panel on Thursday reviewed and passed several significant bills aimed at enhancing public safety, strengthening legal frameworks, improving governance and enhancing the country’s capacity in criminal investigations and forensic science.

“The National Forensic Agency Bill, 2024”, introduced in the Senate by Interior Minister Mohsin Raza Naqvi on Oct 17 was one of bills to have been passed by the Senate Standing Committee on Interior which met here with Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman in the chair.

“….The National Forensic Agency aims to enhance forensic capabilities across Pakistan. Key initiatives include upgrading existing conventional forensic labs and establishing digital forensic lab that will provide services to all provinces, GB, AJ&K, and government/private forensics labs.

The National Forensics Agency will integrate digital and cyber forensics to combat crimes involving electronic devices, deepfakes, and other electronic offences“, the statement of aims and objectives of the bill, a copy of which is available with Dawn reads.

Senate panel passes several bills aimed at enhancing public safety, strengthening legal frameworks

The functions and responsibilities of the proposed agency to be headquartered in Islamabad will include to expand its infrastructure and human resource to establish a research department, other forensics departments and a state-of-the-art digital forensics department to assist in matter of national security.

The report and opinion of the Agency shall be an admissible evidence. “No action taken under this Act shall be called in question in any court or otherwise except in the manner provided in this Act. No civil or criminal proceedings shall be instituted against any person for anything done in good faith or purp01.ted to have been done under this Act.

“Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, owing to the strategic nature and role of the agency, the government may for a period not exceeding five years exempt the agency from payment of federal taxes on its income generated or collected during the course of its functions and activities, under this Act,” one of the provisions reads.

“All executive authorities of the federation and in the provinces shall render such assistance to the agency as may be required in the exercise or performance of the agency’s activities and functions under this Act”, another proposed section reads.

The Islamabad Rent Restriction (Amendment) Bill, 2024, introduced by Senator Mohsin Aziz, was also passed by the committee.

This bill aims to regulate rental agreements and protect tenants from unfair practices.

The committee also passed with amendments The Provincial Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, aimed to address evolving challenges related to road safety and motor vehicle regulations.

The Factories (Amendment) Bill, 2024 meant to streamline factory regulations and improve occupational safety standards and The Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill, 2024 aimed to strengthen workers’ rights regarding timely payments and ensure wage transparency also passed. The Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024 aimed to enhance legal provisions in the country’s criminal justice system was also passed.

The committee also reviewed several other bills, deferring or referring them for further consultation: The Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, moved by Senator Mohsin Aziz, was referred to a sub-committee, which will include Senators Shahadat Awan, Samina Mumtaz Zehri, and Jam Saifuallah Khan.

The committee also requested the presence of representatives from the ministries of Law, Interior, and Human Rights for a discussion on the length of imprisonment under the proposed amendments.

The Price Control and Prevention of Profiteering and Hoarding (Amendment) Bill, 2024 was referred to the Law Division and the ICT Administration for further review and clarity on amendments.

The Shamilat Land Protection Bill, 2024 and The Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, both bills, moved by Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan, were deferred for further deliberation. The committee sought detailed data on land acquisitions in the Islamabad Capital Territory and requested the Ministry of Defence to provide the relevant notifications on armed forces involvement.

The committee also took up pressing matters of public safety. During the meeting, Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri raised concerns over the use of tinted papers by bureaucrats, suggesting that such privileges should be equally accessible to the general public for their safety.

She emphasized that the public’s security needs are as critical as those of government officials, and called for a briefing on the relevant laws regarding this matter in the next meeting. Further, discussions were held on street crimes, theft, and armed robberies in Islamabad.

The meeting was attended by Senators Shahadat Awan, Samina Mumtaz Zehri, Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan, Dr. Afnan Ullah Khan, and Mohsin Aziz, with senior officials from relevant government departments also in attendance.

Published in Dawn, November 8th, 2024