ISLAMABAD:
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has announced that each parliamentarian will be granted one prohibited bore licence for personal security. The announcement was made during a meeting of the Senate’s Standing Committee on Interior, chaired by Senator Faisal Saleem on Tuesday.
The committee chair expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of arms licences being issued to parliamentarians, prompting Naqvi’s response. The minister also directed the interior secretary to look into complaints regarding the performance of the DG Passports.
The committee discussed security concerns, with the minister agreeing that areas with poor law and order would see an increase in licence quotas. Naqvi also announced that individuals who had paid fees but did not receive licences in the past would have their fees refunded.
The committee reviewed the Pakistan Citizenship Bill 2025, with DG Passports Mustafa Jamal Qazi briefing members on the proposed amendments.
The amendments aim to allow overseas Pakistanis who renounced their citizenship to regain it, enabling them to invest, do business, and contribute to the country’s development.
During the meeting, Senator Haji Hidayatullah expressed dissatisfaction with the alleged irresponsible behaviour of the DG Passports. He complained that the DG would not answer his calls, and when he did, he failed to take action.
He also claimed that the DG had disrespected his leader, Aimal Wali Khan, which he deemed unacceptable. The interior minister directed the interior secretary to investigate the matter.
Moreover, Senator Fauzia Arshad raised concerns about water scarcity in the federal capital.
Naqvi acknowledged that the situation at Rawal Dam was concerning and informed the committee that a task force had been formed, as per the prime minister’s directives, to meet every 15 days to address Islamabad’s water issues.
He stated that water scarcity is a significant problem in new housing societies, many of which have been established illegally, contributing to a separate crisis.
Meanwhile, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa IG Zulfikar Hameed provided a security briefing for Muharram during the meeting, revealing that, out of 35 districts in the province, eight are sensitive and six are extremely sensitive.
To ensure security, 43,470 personnel are being deployed in these areas, he said, adding that surveillance has been heightened along the borders with Punjab and Balochistan, and aerial surveillance will be conducted in certain regions.
The K-P IG also disclosed evidence of external interference in a recent incident, where an attempt to target a political rally in Peshawar was foiled.
