Implementing NAP: Twenty-two tasks accomplished, PM told

Procedure is being put in place for transfer of terrorist cases to military courts

ISLAMABAD:

Some 22 tasks, including the transfer of cases to military courts, have been implemented as part of the National Action Plan (NAP) on counter-terrorism, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was informed in a briefing on Friday.

According to a handout issued by the PM House, Nawaz Sharif was informed that a standard operating procedure is being put in place for transfer of terrorists’ cases from the provinces to the nine newly established military courts for their quick disposal.

Regarding regulation of religious seminaries, Prime Minister Nawaz was informed that there was a consensus on monitoring registration, regulation, financing, curricula and audit of foreign students of madaris. He was also told that the relevant data was being shared with the provincial governments.

He was told that the admission of foreign students to seminaries has been stopped in the wake of a move by the National Police Bureau to set up a database in cooperation with the National Database Registration Authority.

The premier was told that 233 militants– having links with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or its affiliates –have been identified. “Around 60 entities have been put on the list of proscribed organisations, one is on the watch list, while 171 are on the list of the United Nations,” the PM was told.

Under the category of sectarian terrorism, 294 proclaimed offenders have been arrested. Some 547 cases have been registered under hate speech for which 416 people have been arrested. Meanwhile, 83 items are confiscated and 41 shops involved in selling such material are sealed.

Similarly, a little over two dozen cases have been registered in connection with terror financing while 32 arrests have been made.

The prime minister was informed that the federal government, in coordination with the defence department, is planning to put together a well-trained and well equipped counter terrorism force that will draw some 5,000 personnel from Punjab, 1,000 from Balochistan, 800 from Sindh and 3,000 from K-P.

At the briefing officials said that after verification 31.02 million SIMs have been cleared and the target of verifiying 103 million SIMs will be completed by the middle of April. Laws regarding blocking of social media to curb objectionable material are being amended and a report in this regard will be submitted in 15 days, he was told.

The prime minister was told that an action plan has been finalised for Afghan refugees and the registration of undocumented refugees is under way. Their repatriation to camps, in coordination with the provinces and to Afghanistan, is in process.

The prime minister was informed that a security audit of media houses and journalists in all provinces and Islamabad Capital Territory had been completed and 57 security guards had so far been trained.

He was told that following the Karachi operation there is a significant reduction in crimes and 35,029 criminals have so far been arrested.

The law ministry and justice division has also finalised draft amendments in laws to strengthen criminal system of justice in a bid to revamp legislation.

To counter militancy in Punjab, a de-radicalisation programme has been launched and a pilot project for training and provision of soft loans to 200 youth has been approved.

Some 16,344 combing operations – conducted between December 24 and February 8 – have been carried out by provincial governments and 12,462 people have been arrested. Some 3,265 cases have been registered against use of loudspeakers, 2,065 people are arrested while 1,281 pieces of equipment are seized.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 14^th, 2015.