Senate panel urges strict adherence to law in 4th schedule listings

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Committee on Delegated Legislation has stressed the need for strict compliance with legal procedures before placing any individual on the 4th Schedule.

The committee stressed that due process must be followed in letter and spirit to ensure fairness and transparency. The meeting, chaired by Senator Naseema Ehsan, was held at the Old PIPS Hall, Parliament Lodges, and was attended by Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Shibli Faraz, Hamid Khan, and Rubina Qaimkhani. The committee directed the Ministry of Interior to immediately share the draft of the Auqaf Rules for review. A representative from the ministry briefed the committee on the current status and challenges in finalising the rules, as previously instructed by the committee.

In another key discussion, the committee was briefed by a representative of the Child Protection Institute (CPI), Islamabad, regarding the conditions of abandoned and neglected children in the federal capital. The briefing included measures being implemented at the provincial level for child protection. The Director of Child Protection, Balochistan also informed the committee about the province’s efforts and regulatory mechanisms in this regard. The committee unanimously recommended that the Ministry of Human Rights take urgent and stringent measures for protection of unclaimed children at the federal level. It also directed the ministry to present a three-year data report of unprotected children currently under CPI’s custody. Additionally, the Balochistan Child Protection Commission was instructed to submit the approved regulatory rules for the commission within 90 days. The committee also deliberated on the proposed amendment to Paragraph (1), Sub-Paragraph (j) of Schedule-III of the Passport Rules, 2021, and recommended that the amendment be adopted as submitted by the Senate Secretariat to the ministry concerned. The Cabinet Division provided a detailed briefing on various Acts of Parliament, Rules of Procedure, Regulations, and Statutory Regulatory Orders (SROs) it has adopted to enhance its operational efficiency. The meeting also included a discussion on civil awards linked to the 6th Aviation Squadron. The committee directed the division to provide criteria for the awards, relevant rules, and a list of previous recipients.

Furthermore, members proposed the formation of a sub-committee to review the Rules of Business, 1973, and instructed the Cabinet Division to finalise and submit the rules for the Toshakhana (Management & Regulations) Act, 2024, within 60 days. The committee also highlighted the need to revise the Pakistan Commissions of Inquiry Act, 2017, citing the importance of updating legal frameworks to improve their effectiveness.