National Action Plan: Funding of banned outfits disrupted, says IG

IG Sukhera says more than 800 cases had been moved against terrorism suspects

LAHORE: Inspector General of Police Mushtaq Ahmed Sukhera said on Sunday that the Police Department was implementing the National Action Plan (NAP) in letter and spirit.

He said police teams had led scores of successful operations against members of banned outfits, their facilitators and financiers across the province. Talking to APP, the IG said action had been initiated against all those suspected of terrorism and religious extremism.

“Over the course of two years, police have worked on disrupting financial channels of banned outfits,” he said. “Formation of new groups and activities of such groups are being closely monitored,” he said.

Sukhera said the Punjab police had killed 150 terrorists in raids led by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD). He said more than 800 cases had been moved against terrorism suspects.

The police chief said 12,886 people had been detained in 58,904 combing operations over two years. Of these, he said, 14,606 operations had been conducted in Lahore, 4,030 in Sheikhpura, 5,859 in Gujranwala, 4,681 in Rawalpindi, 2,288 in Sargodha, 4,915 in Faisalabad, 6,095 in Multan, 5,121 in Sahiwal, 2,687 in Dera Ghazi Khan and 8,682 in Bahawalpur.

The IG said 8,369 people were prosecuted and the courts convicted 1,657 people on various charges under the Anti-Terrorism Act. He said 6,566 cases were pending in courts.

Responding to a question, Sukhera said sectarian conflicts were being curbed.

“Action is being taken against unregistered seminaries,” he said.

“Police takes prompt action on information regarding unregistered seminaries,” he said. “There is no organised activity behind child kidnappings,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 22^nd,  2016.