K-P gears up to combat illegal activities

Apex Committee decides to collect data on undocumented Afghan residents

PESHAWAR:

A senior-level civil-military huddle in Peshawar decided on Thursday to gather data on Afghan citizens residing in the province, particularly those doing so unlawfully. Besides, a special unit within the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) will be established to tackle the menace of extortion effectively.

Moreover, the participants pledged to initiate a comprehensive crackdown on all forms of illegal activities across the province. This extensive action plan was discussed under the umbrella of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Integrated Security Architecture (KPISA) forum, which also assessed the progress of the National Action Plan (NAP).

The meeting of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Apex Committee, attended by Caretaker Chief Minister Azam Khan, Peshawar Corps Commander Lt-Gen Hasan Azhar Hayat, and senior officials took a review of important matters.

The forum was informed about the stringent measures already implemented to effectively combat illegal activities that contribute to terrorism. In a concerted effort, federal and provincial departments, along with intelligence agencies, will coordinate their actions to counter these illegal activities effectively.

Furthermore, during the meeting, it was decided to initiate the collection of data regarding Afghan citizens residing in the province illegally. Simultaneously, it was resolved to establish a dedicated unit within the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) with the sole objective of eradicating extortion.

The participants received a briefing on the performance of the Provincial Security Secretariat in relation to the implementation of NAP. Matters related to the registration of non-customs paid vehicles and the religious seminaries were also reviewed.

The forum warned of strict measures against those involved in spreading hatred and fake news against the state through social media. It was also decided that the border management, including the registration and audit of arms factories, would be improved to prevent smuggling.

The forum expressed satisfaction with the progress made so far and emphasised the need for coordinated actions by the federal and provincial institutions to work in a better manner. It also called for cooperation between the Apex Committee and district committees for the implementation of NAP.

The meeting commended recent efforts to address individuals engaged in the illicit money transfer business commonly known as Hundi and Hawala.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 15^th, 2023.