Press Release Title: Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman, Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control presiding over a meeting of The Committee at Parliament House, Islamabad

Press Release Date: 19th May, 2025

The Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control, chaired by Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman, convened at Parliament House to deliberate on key legislative matters, government funding issues, and civic irregularities in Islamabad. The Committee passed the Societies Registration (Amendment) Bill, 2025, moved by Minister for Law and Justice Senator Azam Nazir Tarar. The Pakistan Coast Guards (Amendment) Bill, 2025, also moved by Senator Tarar, was discussed. The bill proposes authorizing law officers of the force as public prosecutors. The Committee noted that the rules should clarify the government's role in appointing the special public prosecutor. The bill was voted upon and endorsed by the Committee. Several other bills were not endorsed. Senator Mohsin Aziz’s Control of Narcotics Substances (Amendment) Bill was rejected due to lack of support from the Ministry of Education, Higher Education Commission, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Law and Justice, Anti-Narcotics Force, and provincial and territorial governments. Senator Aziz underscored the rising drug use, estimated to affect nearly thirty percent of the population. After a thorough discussion, the Committee found the bill unfeasible. The Price Control and Prevention of Profiteering and Hoarding (Amendment) Bill, 2024, also moved by Senator Aziz, was discussed. Concerns were raised on the need for a bill to control hoarding in Islamabad. The Committee voted against the bill and decided not to take it forward. Senator Palwasha Muhammad Zai Khan withdrew both the Shamilat Land Protection Bill, 2024, and the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2024. The National Occupational Health and Safety Bill, 2023, moved by Senator Zarqa Suhrawardy, and the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2024, moved by Senator Fawzia Arshad, were dropped due to the non-appearance of the movers. The Chairman of the CDA briefed the Committee on the Parliament building’s annual repair and maintenance plan, prepared in consultation with the National Assembly and Senate Secretariat, with a cost-sharing ratio of 67 and 33 percent respectively. Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry flagged delays in funding and subpar work quality. The Committee recommended implementing the plan in one go and called for streamlined financing. On civic issues, the Committee was informed that Islamabad currently has 221 guest houses, with 27 sealed, 112 under litigation in the Islamabad High Court, 86 in the Supreme Court, and 194 operating under stay orders. Senator Shahadat Awan raised concerns about unauthorized conversions of residential properties. Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman noted ongoing construction despite court cases and highlighted encroachments onto CDA greenbelts. He directed the CDA to present a progress report and asked for a review of all previous recommendations in the next meeting. Among those present were Senators Shahadat Awan, Palwasha Muhammad Zai Khan, Umer Farooq, Irfan ul Haque Siddiqui, Mohsin Aziz, Jam Saifullah Khan, Minister of State Talal Chaudhry, and senior officials from concerned ministries and departments