Operation against militias on the cards

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top security czar has said that an operation was being launched across the country to disarm militia groups. “Only the country’s law enforcement agencies will be allowed to use arms,” Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, the federal interior minister, told a news conference on Monday.

He said the country’s security situation had improved after action against terrorist networks. He described it a major achievement after implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) during the past eight months, adding that the NAP was a comprehensive policy framework to deal with national security and improving law and order in the country.

“The reality should be shared with the nation. The security situation is improving fast. There should be no politics on security matters.”

Nisar said the civil-military relationship was ideal. He stressed the need to avoid making comments on their working relationship. “There should be no point-scoring on NAP’s implementation.”

Regarding the security situation, he said: “Around 695 terrorist incidents have occurred this year, compared to 2,061 in 2010, which was the worst year as far as security was concerned”.

He said that as a result of the Rangers’ operation, “the rate of major crimes in Karachi has decreased by 70 per cent and the people are satisfied with the law and order situation there”.

The minister said the security forces had carried out 62,000 operations under the NAP that resulted in some 68,000 arrests. “The innocent were released after investigation.”

For the country’s abysmal security situation in 2010, he cited lack of coordination after military operations in Swat and Waziristan that year.

However, he added, after the launch of Operation Zarb-e-Azb, coordination between the government and the military has resulted in significant improvement in the security situation. “In the past nine months a total of 1,114 terrorists have been killed, among whom 886 were hard-core.”

Nisar said the interior ministry had finalised data of terrorist and sectarian networks. “Some 61 banned outfits have been put on the final list, while one organisation is on the watch-list.”

He said a 1,000-strong counterterrorism force had been constituted in each province, while an 800-strong force was active in the federal capital.

Moreover, 140 million SIM cards have been verified, which has resulted in a drop in heinous crimes, he added. “For speedy trial of hard-core terrorists, nine military courts have been set up and they have decided 28 cases while 46 are under way.”

The minister said the provinces had suggested legal amendments that had been forwarded to the relevant committee of the National Assembly and they would soon be tabled in the house for legislation.

Regarding Balochistan, he said the operation against insurgents and the dialogue process was progressing simultaneously. He hoped for a major breakthrough, as some 500 insurgents have already laid down their weapons. He said the federal and provincial governments had also geared up against hate speeches and sectarian groups.

He stressed the need for blocking financing of terrorist and other banned organisations, adding that the government was taking effective steps in this regard. “The security forces are also taking action against the sleeper cells of terrorist networks across the country.”

On the subject of FATA, he said the reform process in the tribal region should be expedited.

Nisar said the National Counterterrorism Authority (Nacta) would be transformed into a more vibrant and effective organisation to counter terrorism.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 25^th, 2015.