Global Security Newswire

Pakistani lawmakers on Wednesday postponed consideration of a bill aimed at ensuring the nation meets its obligations as a member of the Biological Weapons Convention over questions about specific elements of the proposal, Pakistan Today reported (see GSN, Oct. 11, 2011).

The National Assembly's foreign affairs panel asked Pakistani Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir to address a provision stating that Islamabad "shall designate any law enforcement agency or agencies for the enforcement of this act, or it may entrust any of its functions under the act to any government body, agency or entity.”

Bashir should identify what entity would enforce the bill, panel lawmakers said.

The bill would ban biological armaments from being employed within Pakistani borders, and advises that violators be sentenced to death or life in prison, in addition to a fine no less than roughly $110,000. The legislation would enable authorities to seize biological weapon-related substances and systems.

Bashir said roughly 132 member countries have moved to comply with the pact's legal standards. There are 165 states parties to the accord (Pakistan Today, Jan. 26).