Cabinet approved amendment to PPC
17 April, 2019
The cabinet approved a proposed amendment to the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) to meet conditions of some countries and the European Union (EU) by waiving the death penalty for extradition of wanted people, including Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder Altaf Hussain, former finance minister Ishaq Dar, former premier Nawaz Sharif’s sons, Hassan and Hussain, and others.
“The cabinet approved proposed amendment to Section 302 of the PPC to meet reservations of the EU and countries like the United Kingdom which do not extradite wanted people to Pakistan because of the death penalty,” said Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry while addressing a press conference after the cabinet meeting.
The minister did not explain whether the proposed amendment would be implemented through an act of parliament or through an ordinance. “We are waiving the condition of capital punishment to catch our big thieves and robbers,” he added.
Mr Chaudhry said people such as Altaf Hussain, Ishaq Dar, and Hassan and Hussain Nawaz would be brought to the country for trial.
However, the minister said after the press conference that the name of retired Gen Musharraf was not under government’s consideration for extradition.
Asked about the fate of Mr Musharraf who had been declared absconder in a treason case, Mr Chaudhry said: “What wrong Musharraf has done and the case made against him was totally a political one. Many members of Musharraf’s cabinet are still here and none of them has so far been made answerable.”
In another major decision, the cabinet empowered the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) to deal with money laundering cases as the information minister told the media that more cases against the leadership of major opposition parties were likely to be opened.
Mr Chaudhry said the cabinet empowered the CTD to deal money laundering cases. He said more cases against ex-premier Nawaz Sharif, incumbent leader of the opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif, their family members and former president Asif Ali Zardari would be opened soon. “The cases they have been facing were made before the PTI government. Now we are going to open more cases against them on the basis of our own investigations,” he added.
The meeting also approved revamp of Pakistan Steel Mills (PSMs) through a public-private partnership, the minister said, claiming that six top steel giants of the world had shown interest in the PSM.
He said a special committee comprising Finance Minister Asad Umar, Information Technology Minister Khalid Maqbool, Revenue Minister Hammad Azar, Commerce Adviser Razzaq Dawood and PM’s special assistant Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari was formed for renewal of licences of cellular phone companies.
The cabinet decided to offer jobs from grade 1 to 5 through open ballot and removed a quota system. The meeting also gave three-month extension to acting chairman of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) Amir Ahmed Ali.
Besides, the cabinet discussed complaints against the National Testing Service (NTS), Mr Chaudhry said, adding that the Federal Public Service Commission would also be revamped.
The minister said PM Khan would launch the first phase of Apna Ghar Housing Scheme for building of 135,000 housing units on Wednesday.
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