PHOTO: REUTERS
These operations include combing, stop and search, intelligence-based operations (IBOs) and others.
According to the data compiled by the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta), of the total 122,772 combing operations launched throughout the country, 56,834 or 46% were conducted in Punjab alone.
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Likewise, Punjab also emerged on top when it comes to ‘stop and search’ operations, with a massive figure of 1,875,182 out of 2,012,765 or 93%. Punjab also tops in IBOs with a high figure of 2,042 out of the total of 4,230 that comes to 48% of the total IBO operations.
The majority of actionable calls on Nacta helpline – 1717 -- generated from Punjab, i.e., 1,696 or 75% out of the total calls of 2,250. Punjab is also ahead of other provinces in the number of executions it carried out under NAP, with 380 cases out of 411 executions that were conducted throughout the country.
Fata tops the list regarding the number of terrorists killed in ‘action against armed militias, TTP and affiliates’ with a figure of 951 while Sindh stands second in this context with 455 terrorists killed and Punjab at third with 135 terrorists killed.
The figure of 135 terrorists killed in Punjab is alarming given the fact that Operation Zarb-e-Azb is being conducted in Fata while Sindh Rangers have been conducting operations in Sindh. However, Punjab still insists that there is no need to deploy Rangers in the province under the same set of powers that the paramilitary force enjoys in Sindh.
Punjab is also on top with regard to hate speech cases, with an alarming figure of 958 against a total of 1,342 or 71 %. It also surpassed other provinces in nabbed people over hate speech and possessing such material. An overwhelming number of 2,042 cases were registered in this context in Punjab which is around 85 % of the total count of 2,381 cases.
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Punjab again leads the table when it comes to misuse of loudspeakers, arrests that were made under hate speech and possessing objectionable material and premises sealed and material/equipment confiscated on this count.
Punjab, Sindh and AJK are still short of the required strength of the counter terrorism force (CTF). The sanctioned strength of CTF in Sindh was 1,000 while it got 188 personnel. Punjab has 1,182 against the sanctioned strength of 1,500 personnel while AJK has 260 against the sanctioned strength of 500 CTF personnel.
Defence analyst Brigadier (retd) Mahmood Shah, when contacted to comment on these statistics, said the federal government seems to be compromising on these issues due to political reasons.
He said currently the government has adopted ‘Dang Tapao’ policy instead of taking required action in any province where it is required, adding that Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif was on record as having requested the Taliban to spare Punjab from their activities.
Shah said this is not an issue of survival of a single province but that of the entire country, adding that the armed forces need to be backed at the moment. He said the armed forces under Operation Zarb-e-Azb are winning the war against terrorism, but there seems to be lack of wholeheartedness on the part of the federal government in this exercise.
According to him, there are reports of terrorists, who have taken shelter in southern Punjab and it is the right time to take action against them because currently their morale is low due to the success of Operation Zarb-e-Azb.
Shah said the Punjab government is not ready to take action in the area due to obvious reasons.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 26th, 2016.
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