Shoaib.M 0000(18) Senate. on PC-09 1 (273rd Session) SENATE SECRETARIAT ————— “QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWERS AND THEIR REPLIES” to be asked at a sitting of the Senate to be held on Friday, the 23rd February, 2018 DEFERRED QUESTIONS (Questions Nos. 68, 78, 68, 69, 80, 84, 85, 89 and 91 deferred on 15th February, 2018) (Def.) *Question No. 68 Senator Dr. Jehanzeb Jamaldini: (Notice received on 22-11-2017 at 01:30 p.m.) Will the Minister for Water Resources be pleased to state whether it is a fact that Afghanistan is building Hydro Power projects on River Kabul, if so, its possible impacts on water situation in Pakistan and the steps being taken to tackle the same? Reply not received. (Def.) *Question No. 78 Senator Muhammad Talha Mahmood: (Notice received on 05-12-2017 at 09:00 a.m.) Will the Minister for Water Resources be pleased to state: (a) the estimated volume of flood water in the country which flow into the sea every year; and (b) whether there is any proposal under consideration of the Government to store the said water and use the same during the dry season, if so, the details thereof? Syed Javed Ali Shah: (a) The annual average volume of water which flow into the sea below Kotri Barrage is about 29.02 Million Acre Feet (MAF) 2 for the Post Tarbela (1976 onward) Period. The detailed data is enclosed as Annex-I. (b) WAPDA has prepared a comprehensive plan to store water during high flow season and utilize the same during lean season. In. last eight years, WAPDA has completed Mangla Dam Raising Project, Gomal Zam Dam, Satpara Dam and Darawat Dam Projects to store 2.88, 0.892, 0.053 and 0.089 MAF of water respectively while Diamer Basha Dam, Kurram Tangi Dam and Nai Guj Dam Projects with storage capacity of 6.4, 0.90 & 0.16 MAF are under implementation and Mohmand (Munda) Dam with storage capacity 0.676 MAF is ready for implementation. WAPDA is also planning Akhori Dam, Shyok Dam, Chiniot Dam, Naulong Dam and Badinzai Dam with storage capacity of 6.0, 5.5, 1.0, 0.2 and 0.15 MAF respectively for regulated water supply as per requirements. The list of projects completed, under implementation, ready for implementation and under planning stage is at Annex-II. Annex-I 3 4 5 Annex-II 6 7 8 (Def.)*Question No. 68 Senator Col. (R) Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi: (Notice received on 15-11-2017 at 10:50 a.m.) Will the Minister for Law and Justice be pleased to state: (a) the details of corruption cases registered in the National Accountability Bureau during the period from January, 2013 to March, 2017 with province wise breakup indicating also the amount recovered in each of those case so far; and (b) the details of corruption cases settled through plea bargain during the said period? Chaudhry Mahmood Bashir Virk: (a) The Province wise detail of corruption cases registered in National Accountablility Bureau during the period from January, 2013 to March, 2017 are:— 9 The year wise total references filed by NAB during the said period is detailed below:— The year wise total amount recovered by NAB during the said period is detailed below:— (b) The total number of corruption cases settled through Plea Bargain (PB) during the said period are:— 10 (Def.)*Question No. 69 Senator Sardar Muhammad Azam Khan Musakhel: (Notice received on 16-11-2017 at 09:00 a.m.) Will the Minister for Water Resources be pleased to state the names and locations of 20 small dams being constructed under the project for Construction of 100 Delay Action Dams in Balochistan Package 3 indicating also the amount allocated and released, date of approval of tender, name of contractor and present status of work on the same in each case? Reply not received. (Def.)*Question No. 80 Senator Col. (R) Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi: (Notice received on 29-11-2017 at 10:00 a.m.) Will the Minister for Human Rights be pleased to state the steps taken by the present Government for the protection of Human Rights of the citizens other than workers and children in the country? Mr. Mumtaz Ahmed Tarar: The Government of Pakistan is committed to ensure Human Rights of all citizens as envisaged under the Constitution as well as international commitments by adopting all possible measures to ensure protection and promotion of such rights, i.e. rights of women, persons with disabilities and minorities, etc. “The Criminal Law (Amendment) (Offences relating to Honor Killing) Act, 2016 and “The Criminal Law (Amendment) (Offences relating to Rape) Act, 2016” passed by the joint session of the Parliament, are the landmark legislations for protection of Human Rights, particularly rights of women. The Ministry regularly takes up all Human Rights violation cases with the concerned authorities for their redressal. The steps taken by the Government for protection of Human Rights in the country are as under: 11 1. Action Plan for Human Rights, approved by the Prime Minister of Pakistan on 13th February, 2016, is being implemented to further improve human rights situation, in the country, through legal, policy & institutional reforms. 2. A National Task Force (NTF) to monitor implementation of Action Plan for Human Rights has been notified under the chair of Federal Minister for Human Rights comprising Parliamentarians (one each from National Assembly & Senate of Pakistan), relevant Federal Ministries and Provincial Human Rights Departments. Provincial Task Forces (PTFs) have also been constituted. 3. National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) has been established with a broad mandate and powers to take suo-moto action. The Ministry of Human Rights has also notified the NCHR Complaint Rules, 2015 which comprehensively elaborate the procedure regarding evaluating and disposing of complaints of Human Rights Violations. 4. A Toll Free Helpline “1099” for Legal Advice to the victims of Human Rights Violations has been launched. The Helpline (1099) provides referral services to address grievances of the victims. 5. National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) is working for protection of rights of women. The NCSW is mandated to organize activities to combat Violence Against Women, which include Media Campaign for Awareness on Pro- Women Laws; 16 Days of Activism and an Advocacy Campaign to End Violence against Women. 6. District. Human Rights Committees are also being established to monitor Human Rights situation, in the country. 7. International Human Rights Day (10th December), and International Women’s Day (08th March) are celebrated as regular feature in order to create awareness among the masses regarding their basic rights. On these occasions, special supplements containing messages of the President, Prime Minister and Minister for Human Rights along-with achievements of the Government, are issued. 12 8. The Ministry of Human Rights has initiated Public Awareness Campaign on Human Rights Education and Sensitization under Action Plan for Human Rights, through Seminars as well as advertisements in print and electronic media. The campaign’s target is general public, civil society, researchers, academia, students, government functionaries and different segments of society. The campaign focuses promotion of Human Rights’ values for creating a culture of tolerance and respect. In this regard, the following activities have been undertaken: i. 72 Seminars on Human Rights Education, Sensitization and Awareness Raising have been organized in various Universities/Institutions during 2015-16 and 2016-17. ii. 3 Day Public Awareness Campaign on Pakistan Radio Network, PTV and ATV has been launched for awareness raising among general masses. iii. Moreover, 6 Day Public Awareness Campaign has been launched on print media through publishing half page/quarter page advertisements. iv. “Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Material on Human Rights Issues” has been developed as a part of Public Awareness Program. (Def.)*Question No. 84 Senator Muhammad Talha Mahmood: (Notice received on 05-12-2017 at 09:00 a.m.) Will the Minister for Human Rights be pleased to state: (a) the main functions of the National Commission for Human Rights; (b) the number of cases of human rights violations taken up by the said Commission during the last five years; and (c) the steps taken by the present Government for protection of human rights in the country? 13 Mr. Mumtaz Ahmed Tarar: (a) Under clause 9 of the NCHR ACT 2012, the functions of the Commission are as under;– Commission shall perform all or any of the following functions, namely:— a. suo-moto or on a petition presented to it by a victim or any person on his behalf, inquire into complaints of – (i) violation of human rights or abetment thereof; or (ii) negligence in the prevention of such violation, by a public servant; b. intervene in any proceeding involving any allegation of violation of human rights pending before a court by finking application for becoming a party to the proceedings before such court; c. notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, the Commission or any person authorized by it may visit any jail, place of detention or any other institution or place under the control of the Government or its agencies, where convicts, under trial prisoners, detainees or other persons are lodged or detained for purposes of ascertaining the legality of their detention as well as to find out whether the provisions of the applicable laws or other provisions relating to the inmates living conditions and their other rights are being complied with; d. review the safeguards provided by or under the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan or any other law for the time being in force for the protection of human rights and recommend adoption of new legislation, the amendment of existing laws and the adoption or amendment of administrative measures for their effective implementation: Provided that if requested by the Government, the Commission may examine any legislation and submit its views thereon and comment on the implication of the same for legislation; e.