Punjab

Govt mulls over action against hate literature

CM, federal ministers discuss steps to improve Punjab’s security situation

Our Correspondent January 24, 2021

Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Pir Noorul Haq Qadri says our religion and constitution ensure the right of religious freedom to minorities. PHOTO: EXPRESS

LAHORE:

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar and two federal ministers decided on Saturday to launch a crackdown on those involved in publishing and distributing hate literature against religious communities.

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad and Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Pir Noorul Haq Qadri met with the CM where they discussed matters of mutual interest, political affairs and law & order situation.

The meeting also discussed promotion of religious harmony and it was agreed that every step would be taken for further improving law and order and security situation.

The meeting decided to launch an across-the-board action against provocative speeches as well. Effective coordination would be made between federal and provincial governments for further improving law and order, they decided.

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The interior minister said his ministry would provide support to the provincial government regarding law and order situation improvement.

The chief minister said , “No one will be allowed to take the law into their hands as implementation of the law will be ensured.”

On September 5 last year, Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of the Punjab Police said it had taken legal action against 218 persons involved in spreading hate speech on social media platforms before and during the month of Muharram.

First information reports (FIRs) were registered against 87 people, who had been sent to jail, while 43 people had been detained under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law.

According to a CTD performance report published in 2020, 40 cases were registered against terrorism financing in which 65 terrorism financiers were arrested and millions of rupees were reportedly recovered. Properties worth multi billion rupees were seized by the government.

Funds collection by ‘proscribed organisations’ had been stopped, it claimed.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 24^th, 2021.