Interior Committee Defers Criminal Procedure Reforms, Seeks Review of FIA Offloading Practices

ISLAMABAD, Jun 09 (APP):The National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control on Tuesday deferred consideration of the proposed amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure, deciding to undertake a detailed clause-by-clause review of the legislation during a series of meetings scheduled from June 16 to 18.

The committee, which met at Parliament House under the chairmanship of MNA Raja Khurram Shahzad Nawaz, was briefed by Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar on the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2025. He said the reforms were aimed at aligning criminal justice procedures with technological advancements, including the use of digital evidence, CCTV footage, electronic communications, online FIR registration systems and modern prosecution services.

The minister told members that the proposed amendments had been drafted after extensive consultations with legal experts, prosecutors, judicial officers and bar representatives. He said the reforms were intended to strengthen investigations, improve prosecution outcomes, raise conviction rates and safeguard the rights of both victims and accused persons.

The committee agreed to defer the bill for detailed scrutiny and also postponed consideration of the West Pakistan Motor Vehicle Taxation (Amendment) Bill, 2025.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) also came under discussion as members examined policies governing passenger offloading, the issuance of third and subsequent passports, and the blacklisting of overseas Pakistanis. FIA Director General informed the committee that passenger offloading remained a key tool in combating illegal migration, human trafficking and visa misuse. He said the agency was using a Risk Analysis Unit, artificial intelligence tools, advanced data analytics and the Integrated Border Management System to identify high-risk travelers.

Committee members, however, voiced concern over reports that genuine passengers holding valid visas and travel documents had been prevented from travelling. Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry assured members that the profiling system was increasingly being automated to enhance transparency and reduce discretionary decision-making.

The committee also disposed of a calling attention notice regarding delays in compensation payments to landowners affected by land acquisition in Islamabad sectors E-12, C-13, C-14, C-15, C-16 and H-16. It directed the Deputy Commissioner Islamabad to coordinate with concerned lawmakers to resolve any remaining issues.

The committee further took up a public complaint regarding the blockage of a longstanding access route due to an ongoing graveyard project in Pindorian (Khanna). Observing that local residents were facing hardship, it directed the Capital Development Authority and the Deputy Commissioner Islamabad to conduct a joint site visit and restore public access without delay.

The committee also reviewed reports submitted by the police authorities of Punjab and Sindh regarding allegations circulating on social media linking former prime minister and MNA Raja Pervaiz Ashraf to claims made in a viral video. After examining the reports, members were informed that the allegations were baseless, following which the matter was disposed of.

The meeting was attended by federal ministers, members of the National Assembly, senior officials of the ministries of Interior and Law, the FIA, Anti-Narcotics Force, Capital Development Authority and the Deputy Commissioner Islamabad.