National Assembly on Wednesday approved National Forensic Science Laboratory Bill 2024 with majority, Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi tabled the Bill in the Assembly, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
According to the bill, the headquarters of the National Forensic Agency will be established in Islamabad, however, Agency will provide services to all provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir.
Forensic Agency will be equipped with capabilities for forensics of electronic devices, digital forensics, cyber forensics, deepfakes and other electronic and cybercrimes.
The legislation aimed at empowering the agency besides ending dependence on foreign countries. With the establishment of the Agency, departments of research, forensics and digital forensics will be established. The digital forensics department will assist in national security matters. The agency will also provide services to labs and law enforcement agencies.
The agency will secure the digital forensic material and the forensic agency will also provide services to assist the court as an expert. Under the Act, the agency will function under a Board of Governors comprising a chairperson and 4 members.
The Chairperson will be the Secretary of the concerned Division while IG Islamabad, National Coordinator of NACTA, DG of National Police Bureau will be the members.
A three-member executive committee will be constituted to control the financial and administrative affairs of the agency.
It will also be empowered to exercise the powers of the Board in case of emergency. The agency's DG will be appointed within 6 months after the law is passed. The DG of the National Forensic Agency shall not hold dual citizenship.
During the appointment of the DG, the Prime Minister may appoint an officer not below grade 20 as Acting Director General.
The objectives of the bill state that the objective of the bill is to enhance public safety, strengthening of legal framework, enhancing the country's capacity in criminal investigation and forensic science.
National Forensic Agency aims at enhancing forensic capabilities across Pakistan. Key initiatives include upgrading the existing conventional forensic labs and setting up a digital forensic lab.
Earlier, expressing her views on the bill, PPP leader Shazia Marri said that the Bill had already been passed by the Senate but the word “prime minister” had been used in only one place while there was no mention of this word in the remaining part of the text, which would create some confusion.
She further said that in case of any official making a mistake, fine amounting to Rs0.1 million will be slapped, which must be enhanced to Rs0.5 million.
Reporter: Usman Khan