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: 7th September, 2026

‎Senate Interior Committee Passes Key Criminal Law Amendments, Raises Concerns Over Official Passports for Former Parliamentarians ‎‎ ‎The Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control, chaired by Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman, met on Monday to consider a range of private members’ bills concerning consumer protection, anti-rape legislation, protection of domestic workers, acid crimes, LPG safety and amendments to the Pakistan Penal Code. The committee also examined matters relating to official passports of former parliamentarians, the murder of Syed Amir Shehzad Shah, and the brutal killing of five-year-old Ayat Noor in Haripur. ‎ ‎The meeting was attended by Senator Shahadat Awan, Senator Naseema Ehsan, Senator Saifullah Abro, Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, Senator Umer Farooq, Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan, Senator Jam Saifullah Khan, Senator Muhammad Talha Mahmood and Senator Dilawar Khan, while Senator Bushra Anjum Butt and Senator Sarmad Ali attended as movers of agenda items. ‎ ‎The report of the sub-committee, presented by its Convenor Senator Saifullah Abro, came under detailed discussion. The committee was briefed on major concerns regarding tax evasion involving imported material destined for tax-exempt areas. It was informed that the FBR had failed to produce consumption certificates for all such imported material. ‎ ‎The committee was further informed that a media campaign had been launched against the committee and that misleading information regarding tobacco-related tax evasion had allegedly been presented to the Prime Minister. Members also expressed concerns over alleged connivance of certain FBR officials with fake factories to facilitate tax evasion through tax-exempt imports. ‎ ‎Taking serious note of the matter, Chairman Committee Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman directed the Minister of State for Interior to convey the committee’s observations to the Prime Minister. The committee decided to continue deliberation on the sub-committee’s report in its next meeting. ‎ ‎The committee unanimously passed The Islamabad Consumers Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2026, after detailed consideration, directing that the bill be processed further along with the observations of the Ministry of Law and Justice. ‎ ‎The committee also unanimously passed the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, relating to the insertion of new Section 338CA in the Pakistan Penal Code and corresponding amendment to Schedule II of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The Chairman directed the Ministry of Law and Justice to facilitate due consideration of proposed legislation and ensure the presence of relevant authorities during deliberations rather than merely opposing such initiatives. ‎ ‎The Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) (Amendment) Bill, 2026 was also unanimously passed. The committee observed that legislation aimed at strengthening the legal framework against rape offences should receive appropriate government support. ‎ ‎The committee further considered the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, proposing insertion of Section 328B in the Pakistan Penal Code and corresponding amendments to Schedule II of the Code of Criminal Procedure, aimed at protecting domestic help workers. The bill was passed after voting, while the Ministry of Law and Justice was directed to submit a comparative statement of the existing law and proposed amendments at the next meeting. ‎ ‎The committee also considered and passed legislation seeking amendments to Section 286 and insertion of new Section 286A in the Pakistan Penal Code, along with corresponding amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure, to criminalize the unauthorized transfer of LPG into smaller cylinders and reduce the resulting public safety risks. ‎ ‎The Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, relating to amendment of Section 336B of the Pakistan Penal Code and corresponding amendments to Schedule II of the Code of Criminal Procedure, aimed at strengthening legislation against acid crimes, was also unanimously passed. The committee noted that the government had supported the proposed legislation. ‎ ‎The committee expressed serious concern over reports that former parliamentarians were being required to obtain an NOC from the Ministry of Interior for issuance of official passports. Members termed the requirement contrary to existing law and raised concerns over the reduction of passport validity from the normal five-year period to one year. ‎ ‎The Minister of State for Interior informed the committee that only the internal approval procedure had been changed and assured that official passports would continue to be issued to former parliamentarians in accordance with the applicable policy. The Chairman reiterated that the committee fully supported measures to prevent misuse of official passports but directed that existing law must not be violated and that official passports should be issued to former parliamentarians with five-year validity in accordance with the law. Further deliberation on the matter was deferred until the next meeting. ‎ ‎The committee received a comprehensive briefing on the current status of the Syed Amir Shehzad Shah murder case. The Chairman appreciated the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police for its frontline role in combating terrorism and directed the authorities to intensify efforts to apprehend the main accused. He also directed that progress reports in the case be submitted to the committee on a fortnightly basis. ‎ ‎The committee was also briefed on the investigation into the murder of five-year-old Ayat Noor in Haripur. The committee was informed that five suspects had been arrested and that further investigation was underway to determine whether any other individuals were involved. ‎ ‎The Ministry of Interior also briefed the committee on concerns regarding unregulated social media use by minors and informed it that a high-powered committee was working on proposals to regulate social media usage by children. ‎ ‎Chairman Committee Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman directed the police to conduct a thorough investigation and bring the perpetrators of Ayat Noor’s murder to justice at the earliest. He further directed the Ministry of Interior to include frontline police officers in relevant international and foreign training courses. ‎ ‎The committee also received a briefing on alleged housing society fraud and a property-related case in Fateh Jang. The Chairman directed the concerned authorities to submit detailed reports at the next meeting.