Islamabad, Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control met under the Chairmanship of Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman. The meeting was attended by Senator Saifullah Abro, Senator Umer Farooq, Senator Palwasha Muhammad Zai Khan, and Senator Mir Dostain Khan Domki, while Senator Mohammad Abdul Qadir attended as a special invitee. Senators Sherry Rehman, Anusha Rehman Ahmad Khan, Muhammad Aslam Abro, Jan Muhammad Buledi, Dr. Afnan Ullah Khan, and Abdul Shakoor Khan attended the meeting as movers.
The Committee expressed serious displeasure over the absence of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sindh and questioned the efficiency of the Sindh Police for failing to arrest the perpetrators involved in the murder of the brother and nephew of Senator Muhammad Aslam Abro. The Committee also deliberated on the issue of dacoit gangs operating in the Katcha area of Sindh and voiced grave concerns over the prevailing law and order situation. The Committee was informed that raids are being conducted and that the Sindh and Balochistan Police are actively coordinating to apprehend the culprits. The Chairman directed that the culprits be arrested and a report be submitted to the Committee at the earliest, failing which the concerned IGP would be held responsible.
The Committee also considered “The Prevention of Electronic Crime (Amendment) Bill, 2025” and, in the absence of any objection from the Ministry of Interior, passed the proposed amendments. Furthermore, the Committee considered and passed “The Islamabad Capital Territory (Prohibition of Plastic Book Covers) Bill, 2025.” The Chairman welcomed the introduction of environmentally friendly legislation. However, the Chairman again expressed displeasure over the absence of the IGP Sindh, due to which the mover, Senator Danesh Kumar, left the meeting in protest.
The Committee was briefed on issues relating to identity theft and misuse of personal identification data. Representatives from NADRA and the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports assured the Committee that there have been no data leakages owing to strengthened security mechanisms introduced after 2023. The Committee, however, expressed concern over the availability of Pakistani citizens’ personal data on the dark web and directed the concerned authorities to ensure enhanced data security. The Chairman disposed of the identity theft matter with directions to further strengthen cybersecurity measures.
The Committee was also briefed on the murder case of the son of Mian Adil Rasheed, Patron-in-Chief of the Central Group of Colleges. It was informed that the investigation has been completed and the accused have been arrested. The Committee appreciated the efforts of the Punjab Police and disposed of the matter on the assurance of the Minister of State for Interior, with directions to keep the Committee regularly updated on the case.
Additionally, the Committee raised concerns regarding the blockage of CNICs of certain individuals and directed the relevant authorities to facilitate affected persons through District-Level Committees for verification and clearance of their CNICs in accordance with the prescribed policy.
The Committee also received a briefing from the Director General, NCCIA, on the increasing incidents of WhatsApp hacking in Pakistan. It was informed that NCCIA is actively addressing the issue and that necessary resources are being provided to strengthen the newly established authority. The Chairman directed that social media platforms failing to comply with Pakistan’s laws must ensure compliance, failing which such platforms may face bans.
Briefings were also given on E-tagging and M-tagging of vehicles, as well as household surveys being conducted in Islamabad. The Committee raised serious concerns regarding data protection and expressed reservations over the collection of sensitive personal information. The Chairman directed that robust data protection measures be ensured, considering the sensitive nature of the data and the safety of citizens.
Furthermore, the Committee took notice of the theft of 2,828 cartons of cigarettes from the FBR store in Swabi and Mardan. Expressing grave concern over recurring theft incidents involving seized goods, the Chairman ordered the formation of a Sub-Committee headed by Senator Saifullah Abro, with Senator Umer Farooq and Senator Talha Mehmood as members, to thoroughly investigate the matter.
The Committee also recommended that no arms licenses be issued to non-taxpayers and directed the Ministry of Interior to strictly enforce this directive
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
