Keen deliberation: Technical committee convenes first session, discusses security in K-P

Pores over publications, radio channels used to promote hate speech

PESHAWAR: The technical committee formed in the aftermath of the attack on Army Public School (APS) held its first meeting at the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Home and Tribal Affairs department on Friday.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Local Government Inayatullah Khan, Health and Information Technology Minister Shahram Tarakai, Minister for Education Atif Khan and Minister for Information Mushtaq Ghani besides the co-opted members including provincial police officer, and secretaries of higher education, elementary education, local government and rural development along with the planning and development department.



According to official documents available with The Express Tribune, the committee discussed in detail the nexus of criminal gangs with militants and FM radio channels used by madrassahs, mosques and others for sermons. Participants deliberated on whether these radio channels are regulated or not.

Official sources said the committee also brought under discussion district-wise action against publications and circulation of hate material in any form. Objectionable and inflammatory speeches, inciting others against any sect, general public, a citizen or any other thing that hurts anyone’s feelings were also discussed in detail.

“Mode of surveillance of people already under Schedule-IV of the Anti-Terrorism Act and action against most wanted criminals and terrorists mentioned in the Red Book were also discussed,” said official sources.

An official said district-wise terrorist cells were discussed along with the requirement of police personnel in all districts of the province.

Moreover, participants floated the idea of an inspection of investigations being carried out in terrorism cases.

“All the participants made a comparative analysis of the terror cases from 2006 to 2014 besides crimes from 2010 to 2014,” the official said.

Soon after the APS attack on December 16, 2014 when militants attacked the school killing at least 150 people including 134 students, the provincial government constituted the technical committee to the review security situation in K-P.

The committee was tasked to forward recommendations on how to counter terror activities in the province. However, soon after the committee was formed, Awami National Party raised concerns over its constitution saying the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led government should have formed an enquiry committee rather than a technical one.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 10^th, 2015.