Fighting militancy: Head of country’s top anti-terror body named
New NACTA chief Ihsan Ghani seeks to expedite NAP’s implementation
New NACTA chief Ihsan Ghani seeks to expedite NAP’s implementation. PHOTO: MUHAMMAD IQBAL/EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
Lt Cdr (retd) Ihsan Ghani has been appointed as chief of the National Counterterrorism Authority (Nacta), the Establishment Division announced on Friday.
The notification was issued after receiving a recommendation from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who, in turn, had received a recommendation from Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan for appointing Ghani as the national coordinator for the country’s top counterterrorism body.
The new Nacta chief, who is likely to assume charge on Monday or Tuesday, listed his priorities to live up to the expectations of his boss, the interior minister, who wanted an energetic man at the helm to review how to execute the National Action Plan (NAP) in a more skilful manner. “Ghani is the best pick,” a senior interior official quoted Nisar as saying.
In a brief chat with The Express Tribune, Ghani mentioned his three top priorities that could make the counterterrorism body more productive and result-oriented to tackle terrorism across the country. “Expediting NAP’s implementation, reviving Nacta and improving coordination with stakeholders [is my prime focus].”
As the new chief of Nacta, Ghani will continue executing the present government policies, including how to swiftly fulfil the NAP.
Ghani is replacing Saud Aziz, who was running Nacta’s affairs in addition to being the director general of the National Crisis Management Cell after Hamid Ali Khan resigned from the post last month citing poor health.
Interior officials believe that with Ghani at the helm, Nacta – which has been facing several challenges on many fronts – would possibly see new light to meet the expectations of the nation struggling to eradicate militancy for decades.
Various senior officials had been manoeuvring for this important post for weeks, but Ghani, according to the officials, took precedence because of his rich experience of curbing militancy and extremism.
The government has appointed the Nacta chief for three-year tenure. “The national coordinator shall be a professional of known integrity and competence in BPS-22 or equivalent and may be appointed in rotation from bureaucracy or Police Service of Pakistan,” reads the Nacta Act 2013.
Ghani joined the police service in 1989 and is currently serving as the DG of the National Police Bureau, the premier institution for steering police reform efforts in the country.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 22nd, 2015.
Lt Cdr (retd) Ihsan Ghani has been appointed as chief of the National Counterterrorism Authority (Nacta), the Establishment Division announced on Friday.
The notification was issued after receiving a recommendation from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who, in turn, had received a recommendation from Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan for appointing Ghani as the national coordinator for the country’s top counterterrorism body.
The new Nacta chief, who is likely to assume charge on Monday or Tuesday, listed his priorities to live up to the expectations of his boss, the interior minister, who wanted an energetic man at the helm to review how to execute the National Action Plan (NAP) in a more skilful manner. “Ghani is the best pick,” a senior interior official quoted Nisar as saying.
In a brief chat with The Express Tribune, Ghani mentioned his three top priorities that could make the counterterrorism body more productive and result-oriented to tackle terrorism across the country. “Expediting NAP’s implementation, reviving Nacta and improving coordination with stakeholders [is my prime focus].”
As the new chief of Nacta, Ghani will continue executing the present government policies, including how to swiftly fulfil the NAP.
Ghani is replacing Saud Aziz, who was running Nacta’s affairs in addition to being the director general of the National Crisis Management Cell after Hamid Ali Khan resigned from the post last month citing poor health.
Interior officials believe that with Ghani at the helm, Nacta – which has been facing several challenges on many fronts – would possibly see new light to meet the expectations of the nation struggling to eradicate militancy for decades.
Various senior officials had been manoeuvring for this important post for weeks, but Ghani, according to the officials, took precedence because of his rich experience of curbing militancy and extremism.
The government has appointed the Nacta chief for three-year tenure. “The national coordinator shall be a professional of known integrity and competence in BPS-22 or equivalent and may be appointed in rotation from bureaucracy or Police Service of Pakistan,” reads the Nacta Act 2013.
Ghani joined the police service in 1989 and is currently serving as the DG of the National Police Bureau, the premier institution for steering police reform efforts in the country.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 22nd, 2015.