IHC orders placement of NACTA under PM Secretariat

Declares appointment of NACTA national coordinator void.

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday ordered the placement of the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta) under the purview of the Prime Minister's Secretariat as mentioned in NACTA Act 2013.     

The court also declared the appointment of National Coordinator Nacta Khawaja Muhammad Ashraf null and void, and suspended a notification terminating six Nacta employees.

A single member bench of IHC announced the decision on a plea of two Nacta officers, Javed Iqbal and Babar Khan, who had challenged the placement of Nacta under the Ministry of Interior, seeking the restoration of its previous status.

The court also set aside decisions of Nacta from July 15, 2013, so far and declared the notification of placing Nacta under the interior ministry contradictory with the NACTA Act 2013.

Nacta is the pivotal agency responsible for forming strategy, coordinating efforts and overseeing execution. It is a statutory authority that functions in all relevant areas of policy formulation, strategy and implementation.