Senate passes resolution on missing persons
Muhammad Anis
ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Wednesday passed a unanimous resolution expressing concern over the issue of missing persons and demanding that the federal and provincial government take steps for their recovery.
The resolution was moved by outgoing veteran senator and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) parliamentary leader in the Senate, Professor Khurshid Ahmed, who had earlier introduced a bill in the house that sought reduction of powers of intelligence agencies in the case of preventive detention to a reasonable limit and to ensure the right of fair trial for every detainee.
“The Senate of Pakistan expresses its deep concern over the issue of missing persons, involving the persistent violation of Articles 9 and 10 of the Constitution,” the resolution said.
As he has done several times in the past, Professor Khurshid sounded a reminder to the government to take action for the recovery of missing persons by moving the resolution that said acts of terrorism or subversion are unforgivable but every citizen is innocent till proved guilty through due process of law.
The resolution further says the abduction, arbitrary lifting and forced disappearance of any human being is illegal and intolerable in a civilised society. “The Supreme Court of Pakistan has also taken serious note of this situation which has assumed serious proportions in the country, particularly in Balochistan, Karachi and Fata,” it says.
Through the unanimous resolution, the Senate also asked the federal and provincial governments to take immediate and effective steps to ensure speedy recovery and release of all such persons, except those charged under the law of the land for any offence. The Senate also demanded that a detailed report about missing persons and the steps being taken for their recovery should be presented to the House as early as possible.
The Senate also passed the Industrial Relations Bill 2012 to ensure more rights for labourers and consolidate and rationalise the law ñ in Islamabad Capital Territory and at the trans-professional level ñ relating to the formation of trade unions and determining collective bargaining agents.
The bill also envisages the regulation of relations between employer and workers, the avoidance and settlement of any differences or disputes arising between them and matters connected therewith and ancillary. “The passage of the bill also fulfills the commitment of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto for the rights of workers,” said Senator Raza Rabbani who moved the bill in the house as a private member’s bill.
He said that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and other parties who supported the bill, had opposed the Industrial Relations Ordinance 2002 which was promulgated by dictator Pervez Musharraf.” The bill will be forwarded to the National Assembly in a day or two and I hope the members of the lower house will also pass it unanimously,” Raza Rabbani said.
According to bill, the federal government will constitute a National Industrial Relations Commission which will adjudicate and determine an industrial dispute in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) to which a trade union or a federation of such trade unions is a party and which is not confined to matters of purely local nature and any other industrial dispute which is, in the opinion of the government, of natural importance and is referred to it by that government.
The bill shall apply to all persons employed in any establishment of industry in the ICT or carrying on business in more than one province, but shall not apply to any person employed in the police or any of the defence services of Pakistan or any services or installations exclusively connected with the armed forces of Pakistan including Ordnance Factory maintained by the federal government.
It shall not apply in the administration of the State other than those employed as workmen and in case of member of the security staff of the PIA Corporation or drawing wages in pay group not lower than Group V in the establishment of that Corporation. It shall not be applicable to the Pakistan Security Printing Corporation of the Security Papers Limited. The legislation shall not be applicable to an establishment or institution meant for treatment or care of sick, infirm, destitute or mentally unfit persons excluding those run on commercial basis. Six retiring Senators also made farewell speeches and appreciated the services of the outgoing members.
The bill says that whosoever willfully fails to implement any term of any settlement, award or decision which is his duty under this Act, shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to 15 days or a fine which may extend to Rs30,000 or with both.
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