ISLAMABAD: A Senate panel on Friday called for a crackdown on organised beggary networks in Islamabad and stern action against criminals who deform bodies of children and make them physically impaired in their lust for money to use them for beggary.

The Senate Standing Committee on Interior met to discuss the Islamabad Prevention of Beggary Bill 2019 moved by Senator Mohammad Atiq Sheikh.

Committee Chairman Senator A. Rehman Malik said a clause against forced deformities must be added to the bill.

He said it was against international human rights that little children were deformed after being forced to wear iron rings around their heads to make them abnormal for the malicious purpose of begging.

He suggested that a section must be added to deal with the mafia involved in the child trade for begging purposes.

A clause against forced deformities of children must be added to Islamabad Prevention of Beggary Bill 2019, Senator Rehman Malik says

He said if stringent laws were not introduced to protect the children, it can be turned into a big menace for society in future.

He directed the Ministry of Interior and the Islamabad administration to launch a crackdown on beggars and instead of the lock-ups the children should be sent to the Child Protection Centres.

He also directed that begging children should be provided with good food and proper education.

Further consideration of all the three bills moved by Senator Atiq Sheikh - Islamabad Prevention of Beggary Bill 2019, Islamabad Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill 2020 and the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2020 - was deferred.

The bills were referred to the Ministry of Interior with directions to examine them in coordination with the Ministry of Law and Justice and all other stockholders.

The committee also deferred consideration of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 (Act XLV of 1860) moved by Senator Azam Swati on behalf of the minister for interior due to the absence of the minister.

The committee chairman directed the Ministry of Interior to inform the minister that he should be present in the next meeting so that the bill could be discussed otherwise it would be rejected.

Considering precautionary and preventative measures being taken by the government to stop the potential spread of coronavirus in Pakistan, Senator Malik said the committee expresses its dissatisfaction over the preventative measures.

He said a task force should be formed under the chairmanship of the prime minister who should personally look into all affairs concerning precautionary measures to curb the spread of the virus in Pakistan.

He said all provincial chief secretaries, health secretaries and heads of health departments should be included in the task force.

He also demanded the government immediately summon a special joint session of parliament to chalk out a comprehensive roadmap to control and combat the deadly epidemic.

Senator Kalsoom Parveen stressed the need to bring back Pakistani students from China and pilgrims stranded on the Pakistan-Iran border, adding no one can stop the entry of citizens into their own country.

Senator Mohammad Javed Abbasi of the PML-N demanded appointment of federal minister for health so that the government’s point of view could be presented in parliament.

He said it showed non-seriousness of the government that in the critical situation when the coronavirus was confirmed in the country and playing havoc in the world we are not having a permanent health minister.

The committee discussed the implementation status of the recommendations of the committee pertaining to administrative, financial and legal issues of CDA and MCI and observed that the two organisations had failed to resolve their differences.

The chairman directed both the organisations to implement the recommendation of the committee which had already been sent to the Ministry of Interior.

He said the disputes were affecting efficiency and performance of CDA and MCI because of which the residents of Islamabad had become the ultimate sufferers.

He directed that the recommendation of the committee should be followed in letter and spirit and a report should be submitted within 40 days.

He said it was directed that the CDA employees shall continue their services on attachment basis under the administrative control of MCI.

However, the status of employees will remains lien as CDA employees and their services are to be governed under the CDA Service Regulations 1992 till their retirement.

Published in Dawn, March 7th, 2020