Fighting terror: NAP has nation’s backing, says Nisar

Ministerial committee approves registration of two INGOs

ISLAMABAD:

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has credited the National Action Plan (NAP) for the sharp decline in terrorist attacks, saying the new counterterrorism strategy has full backing of the Pakistani nation.

“NAP implementation will continue with full vigour and determination,” Nisar said on Monday after reviewing progress on the plan during a meeting at the Punjab House. A day earlier Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari accused the government of using the NAP for victimisation of political rivals.



Bilawal’s scathing criticism came in the backdrop of ongoing wrangling between the Sindh and federal governments over extension of special policing powers for the Rangers in Karachi where the paramilitary force has been conducting a targeted operation since 2013.

Chaudhry Nisar – whose ministry issued a notification extending Rangers’ special powers on Friday – directed the relevant departments to speed up work on NAP implementation.



He also asked officials to divide various action points in the plan into categories in order to identify weak areas.



In this regard, ministry officials said they had identified a number of weak points, including madrassa reforms, action against banned outfits and terror financing. They explained that previously madrassa reform was under the purview of the religious affairs ministry while the finance ministry was dealing with the tricky issue of terror financing.

Nisar underlined the need for enhanced cooperation with the provinces to monitor implementation of all points in the NAP.

Two INGOs registered

The interior minister also announced that a ministerial committee has started processing registration of international nongovernmental organisations (INGOs) according to a revised registration policy. “For the first time in the country’s history two INGOs – Qatar Charity and MSF Belgium – have been formally allowed to work after their registration,” he added.



On October 1, 2015, the government introduced a new policy for online registration of INGOs.  The ministerial committee said as many as 127 INGOs have submitted applications for registration. Noting that the new registration policy was aimed at strengthening the government-INGOs partnership, Nisar directed the committee to speed up processing of applications.

Lodhi meets Nisar

Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dr Maleeha Lodhi called on Nisar in Islamabad on Monday. According to a statement issued by the ministry, they discussed matters of mutual interest.


Published in The Express Tribune, December 29^th, 2015.