Threat containment: Govt bringing new laws to combat extremism: CM

421 corporals complete counter-training training at Elite Training School.

LAHORE:

Punjab is the first province that is bringing forth new laws to combat extremism. They cover crimes like wall chalking, misuse of loudspeakers and monitoring of temporary residents, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Saturday.

He was addressing the passing out ceremony of 421 corporals, including 16 women, of the country’s first Counter Terrorism Force (CTF), who completed their nine-month training at the Elite Police Training School Bedian.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, Acting Governor Rana Muhammad Iqbal, Lahore Corp Commander Lt General Naveed Zaman and diplomats from several countries attended the ceremony.

In a demonstration drill, the CTF corporals raided a building and arrested ‘terrorists’ using information provided by an intelligence unit of the force.

Shahbaz Sharif said that it was a historic day for the Punjab and Pakistan. “The trained personnel are our pride. They will lead the way in fighting terrorism,” he said.

He said that the government was setting up a unified command and control system under its safe-city project. “We have established a state of the art forensic science laboratory, allowing for scientific investigation into crime,” he said.

“The terrorists are armed to the teeth. Our law enforcement agencies need the best equipment and training to stop them,” he said.

“In July 2013, the prime minister had outlined his vision to create a specialised force to fight terrorists,” said Shahbaz.

The chief minister thanked COAS Gen Raheel Sharif, saying he had taken personal interest in the training. “The role of Pakistan Army is noteworthy given the standards set for this force,” he said. He also thanked 4th Corps Commander, Lt General Naweed Zaman.

“An apex committee on counter-terrorism has been set up in the Punjab, comprising government officials and army leadership,” he said.

Shahbaz said that the government was making all recruitments on merit.

“The presence of the brave women in the CTF is evidence that our women stand shoulder-to-shoulder with men in the fight against terrorism,” he said.

“We are aware that the fight against terrorism is going to be a long and arduous one. The people and the government of the Punjab believe that it is the most important challenge facing them,” he said.

“I believe that the Pakistani state and nation will triumph,” Shahbaz said.

“The nation has supported the courageous decision of the national leadership to launch operation Zarb-i-Azb. Our soldiers have set new standards during the operation,” he said.

IGP Mushtaq Ahmad Sukehra said that 1,182 corporals had been inducted in the Counter-Terrorism Department of Punjab Police. “The corporals have been divided into three batches. A strategy of progressive learning has been adopted,” he said.

“The corporals have been trained for nine months, including seven months of common training programme and two months of special training. They are taught eight modules in the CTP before they are assigned to special operations, intelligence and investigation wings. The second batch is undergoing training now,” he said.

“The Turkish government extended cooperation in training of the corporals by sending 45 officers of the Turkish National Police. They have also trained 56 officers of Punjab Police as master trainers,” he said.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif gave away prizes to Corporals Basit Ameen, Nazakat Ali and Iqra Noor for standing first, second and third respectively.

Sukhera presented a souvenir to the chief guest.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 1^st, 2015.