Provinces ‘must register mosques, seminaries’

Ahsan stresses need for setting up inter-provincial cabinet level platform

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Wednesday, while emphasising that ‘effective’ implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) was priority of the government, said coordination would be increased between departments to achieve better results.

The minister was chairing a meeting, attended by ministry and provincial officials, to review progress on NAP.

He said a coordinated system should be established between the federal and provincial departments so that no institution could claim that its authority was transgressed.

He said the provincial administration should play its role in raising awareness at the level of neighbourhood and mosques, against extremism.

 The minister urged the need for establishing an inter-provincial cabinet level platform so that the provinces and the federal government could coordinate with each other and ensure implementation of the plan.

Ahsan underlined the need for provinces to play an effective role in building a national narrative against terrorism and extremism.

“The war against terrorism is our war, which we are fighting for the survival of our next generations,” the minister said.

Ahsan instructed that a national database should be formed on crime and terrorism. “Collaboration should be increased on anti-terrorism efforts to achieve further results,” he added.

He said the provinces should ensure registration of religious seminaries and mosques according to the set procedure.

The minister said Ulema and religious scholars should be involved at the provincial level to strengthen strategy against extremism. “The provinces should inform the federal government about their suggestions for implementation of NAP.” APP