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ISLAMABAD: The Upper House on Monday unanimously passed the Protection of Pakistan Bill 2014 which permits security forces to shoot suspects on sight with the permission of a grade-15 official.
Minister for Science and Technology Zahid Hamid moved the bill in the Senate on behalf of Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.
Hamid said that it was very necessary to pass the bill in the Senate to counter the activities of terrorists across the country.
He said it will send a message that the government stands with the military in the operation against terrorists in FATA.
Hamid also appreciated the role of parliamentary leaders from all the political parties in the Senate who gave their suggestions in this regard.
Later, PPP Senator Mian Raza Rabbani said that it was an alarming situation in which Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan did not take part in discussions with parliamentary leaders before the bill was approved in the Senate.
Rabbani admitted that the PPO is a strict bill but the opposition parties support the government regarding the approval of the bill due to present law and order situation of the country.
“The interior minister did not give any importance to the Upper House while it was necessary that he should be present in the Senate to move the bill today,” Rabbani added.
He suggested the government discuss all issues on the floor of the parliament so that a solution for any problem faced by the government can be provided.
JUI-F Senator and Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Interior Talha Mehmood said that the committee had passed the bill before moving it in the Senate.
He also said that it was important for the government to assure the Senate that security forces will not misuse the PPO at any cost.
He said that the law should not be misused against seminary students and members of political parties.
“We have concerns on many clauses of the bill but we will support the government for the protection of the state in this regard,” he admitted.
The passage of the bill has become possible following the government`s acceptance of more than a dozen opposition-proposed amendments to the draft that had already been passed by the National Assembly.
