ISLAMABAD: A sub-committee of National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics has directed that Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) needed to be empowered to probe cases relating to illegal business of human organs.
A notification in this regard be presented in next meeting on March 30, Convener of the sub-committee, Member of National Assembly, Naeema Kishwar Khan directed while chairing a meeting here.
The MANs including Kishwar Zehra, Dr. Nikhat Shakeel Khan, , Aliya Kamran, S.A Iqbal Quadri, Sajid Ahmed and Sahibzada Muhammad Yaqub had proposed amendments in Bills relating to Criminal Laws which were considered. The meeting was also attended by representatives of Ministries of Interior, and Law and Justice. Sajid Ahmed said this is need of the hour and FIA should be empowered so as to probe the accused involved in illegal business of human organs.
Discussing the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2016, S.A. Iqbal Quadri said after 18th amendment in constitution as per Article 10–A of the Constitution fair trial is fundamental right of accused which cannot be achieved unless copy of all material or evidence which the prosecution intends to produce during trial court against the accused is not supplied before framing of the charge. Senior officials of concerned ministries informed the committee that consultation with provinces on this matter was under process.
Sahibzada Muhammad Yaqub, who moved Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill-2016 (Amendments in Sections) 161 to 168, 171, 217 to 219, 403, 404, 417, 418, 419, 420, 465 and 466, said punishment and fines under these Sections were very minimum which needed to be enhanced to control crimes.
A representative of Ministry of Interior informed the Committee that the crimes under above mentioned Sections were related to corruption, forgery, fraud and electoral and agreed to enhance fines, saying introduction of amendments in bulk would change the whole composition of the existing law. However, consultation with provincial governments was under process. Ministry of Interior was not in a position to give substantive view at this stage. The next meeting of the sub-committee would be held on March 30.
