The meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control was held on 27th January 2026 at 02:00 p.m. in the Parliament House, Islamabad, under the chairmanship of Raja Khurram Shahzad Nawaz, MNA. The Committee confirmed the minutes of its previous meeting held on 23rd December 2025 without any amendment.

The Committee considered the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2025 (Government Bill). In view of pending input from relevant stakeholders, the Committee decided to defer consideration of the Bill to a subsequent meeting. The Committee also considered the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government (Amendment) Bill, 2025 (Government Bill) and deferred the matter, with directions to the Ministry of Law and Justice to present a consolidated Bill in a future meeting. Furthermore, the Committee took up the Pakistan Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2025 (Government Bill) and deferred it to the next meeting for further consideration and recommendations.
The Committee also considered the Pakistan Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2025 moved by Khawaja Izhar ul Hassan, MNA. The Mover highlighted the difficulties faced by certain communities whose citizenship status remains unresolved, resulting in denial of basic rights and essential services. While acknowledging the seriousness and sensitivity of the issue, Members observed that citizenship policy entails complex political, legal, and security considerations. The Ministry clarified that any change in citizenship thresholds requires political consensus at the highest level. Accordingly, the Committee deferred the Bill and directed that the matter be taken up with the Government and political leadership for broader consultation.

The Committee then considered the Islamabad Capital Territory Senior Citizens (Amendment) Bill, 2025 moved by Dr. Sharmila Faruqui, MNA. The proposal aimed to enable senior citizens to avail concessions on the basis of a valid CNIC instead of a separate senior citizen card. Appreciating the intent to simplify procedures and reduce hardship for elderly citizens, the Committee approved the Bill with amendment, subject to the Ministry’s assurance that the requisite rules would be framed within six months.

The Committee also deliberated on the Control of Narcotic Substances (Amendment) Bill, 2025 moved by Ms. Sehar Kamran, MNA, which proposed voluntary drug screening in educational institutions. Members discussed concerns relating to data confidentiality, constitutional limits, and jurisdictional issues in the context of the 18th Constitutional Amendment. Representatives of the Anti-Narcotics Force clarified that their mandate does not extend to counselling or medical screening. While recognizing the growing problem of drug abuse among students, the Committee concluded that the proposal, in its present form, lacked an adequate rehabilitation and policy framework. The Committee, therefore, recommended that the Bill may not be passed by the National Assembly and advised exploration of alternative policy and legislative measures through appropriate forums.

The Committee further considered Calling Attention Notice No. 4, moved in the National Assembly on 29 September 2025 by Mr. Anjum Aqeel Khan and Mr. Ibrar Ahmed, MNAs, and referred to the Committee regarding delay in payment of compensation to landowners whose land was acquired by the Capital Development Authority in Sectors E-12, C-13, C-14, C-15, C-16, and H-16, Islamabad. The Committee directed the Chairman, CDA, to submit a comprehensive report on the matter within one week.

The Committee also took up a briefing on traffic congestion and blockages in Islamabad. A detailed presentation was made by the DIG Traffic / CTO Islamabad, highlighting heavy daily traffic volume, ongoing development projects, and security-related checkpoints as major contributors to congestion. Members expressed grave concern over unnecessary internal checkpoints and unprofessional conduct by some police personnel, which were causing severe inconvenience to the public.

The Chair emphasized that issues relating to traffic congestion and blockages in the ICT must be addressed on a priority basis. It was stressed by the Chair that traffic problems being faced by citizens, particularly on Lathrar Road at Taramri Chowk and Ali Pur Bank stop, should be resolved immediately. The provision of laptops or digital devices to police personnel posted at various checkpoints for vehicle identification was also emphasized by the Chair. Members further raised traffic-related issues at IGP Road, Constitution Avenue, Chungi No. 26, Airport Road, and due to private truck stoppages.

After detailed discussion, the Committee directed that unnecessary internal checkpoints be removed immediately and restricted to entry and exit points, professional conduct by police personnel be ensured, and digital traffic management solutions be operationalized at the earliest. The DIG Traffic / CTO was directed to submit a compliance and progress report in the next meeting, while the Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control was advised to address manpower shortages of the Islamabad Traffic Police on a priority basis.

The meeting was attended by Minister of State for Interior and Narcotics Control, Minister of State for Law and Justice, the Honorable Members of the National Assembly, namely Mr. Anjum Aqeel Khan, Chaudhary Naseer Ahmed Abbas, Malik Shakir Bashir Awan, Syed Rafiullah, Sardar Nabeel Ahmed Gabol, Mr. Abdul Qadir Patel, Nawabzada Mir Jamal Khan Raisani, Khawaja Izhar ul Hassan, Ms. Rana Ansar, Mr. Muhammad Ijaz-ul-Haq, Dr. Sharmila Faruqui, Ms. Sehar Kamran, and Mr. Ibrar Ahmed. The meeting was also attended by senior officers from the Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control, the Ministry of Law and Justice, the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, the Election Commission of Pakistan, and the Islamabad Capital Territory Traffic Police.