March, 20 2005	Sunday	09 Safar 1426

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ISLAMABAD, March 19: Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Sherpao has said that the Human Trafficking Ordinance and relating laws were being amended to make them more effective for curbing the menace. The minister told a press conference that under the amended laws cases of human trafficking would be tried in the courts of sessions judges instead of judicial magistrate. “If these cases would be tried in the court of sessions judge, it would be difficult for the accused to get easy bail,” he said. However, he added, the maximum sentence in human smuggling cases, which is 14 years rigorous imprisonment, would remain unchanged. Mr Sherpao said that the ‘Rahdari system’ along the 9,400km border with Iran was being ratified to avoid free border crossing from both sides. Meanwhile, a meeting presided over by Mr Sherpao decided to improve the vigilance system, set up checkpoints along the border with Iran and issue CNICs to those living in remote areas of the four provinces.