Dangerous high powered laser pens which put aircraft in danger could become prohibited items under a new Bill introduced in Parliament.
Rehman has presented a new Bill to prohibit the possession of a laser pen of more than 1 milliwatt in strength.
His Laser Pens (Regulation of Sales, Ownership and Usage) Bill would have the same sentence as carrying a knife.
Supported by ten MPs from across the House, the Bill will receive its Second Reading on 22 April 2016.
High powered laser pens have been used to target civilian and military aircraft, as well as cars and trains.
This comes as the number of aircraft being targeted by lasers has increased at a disturbing rate, with more than 1,300 incidents recorded by the Civil Aviation Authority each year. This compares to only 20 incidents in 2005.
Recent research by Rehman Chishti MP has shown the full extent of the problem affecting the transport system. Over the last five years, 326 laser pen incidents have been recorded on trains. In the same period, 470 attacks on military pilots were reported along with 17 attacks on air traffic control towers.
His Freedom of Information request to the National Police Air Service, which operates the UK’s police helicopters, has highlighted 117 incidents in the last two years alone.
And whilst the number of reported laser attacks have increased, figures show that the number of convictions (for directing or shining a light which endangers aircraft) have fallen. Latest figures report that only 18 people were convicted under Article 222 of the Air Navigation Act in 2014 compared to 48 in 2011. Since 2010, 141 people have been convicted.
Rehman said:
"Urgent action is needed to curtail the availability of these dangerous high powered laser pens, which have few legitimate uses. I have introduced a Bill to make certain laser pens prohibited items as they put public safety at risk."