- PM seeks input of all political parties on the first draft of constitutional, legal amendments for trying enemy combatants, hardcore terrorists involved in execution, abetting, financing of mass murders
- Premier issues directions to make NACTA functional, calls authority’s executive meeting for Wednesday
While chairing a follow-up meeting on the implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) for countering terrorism and extremism, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Saturday called for revamping the dormant National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) within days besides directing 16 newly-formed committees to submit their respective reports on countering terrorism within a stipulated timeframe.
Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Federal Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, special assistants to PM Irfan Siddique, Khawaja Zaheer Ahmed, Barrister Zafarullah Khan and Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Salman Aslam Butt and other senior officers attended the meeting held at the Prime Minister’s House.
The PM expressed the government’s “iron resolve” to deal with miscreants with a heavy hand.
“The government is committed to take all necessary steps to ensure that the blood spilled in the Peshawar school carnage does not go waste,” he said.
The PM emphasised on seamless coordination between law enforcement agencies as well as among the provincial governments and the federal government to achieve optimum results within a short period of time.
NACTA STARTS TO FUNCTION:
During the meeting, the premier issued directions to make NACTA functional. Moreover, the authority’s executive meeting has been called on Wednesday under the chairmanship of the interior minister to review the anti-terrorism measures adopted by the government.
Although NACTA’s new chief Hamid Ali Khan took charge in November 2014, the anti-terror body was hitherto largely dormant resulting in an absence of coordination among various intelligence and law-enforcement agencies which is crucial for monitoring activities of extremist groups operating across the country.
DRAFT FOR AMENDMENTS FOR TRIAL OF SUSPECTED TERRORISTS:
During the meeting, the first draft of constitutional and legal amendments for the trial of enemy combatants and hardcore terrorists involved in execution, abetting and financing of mass murders was presented to the PM.
The draft was presented by a legal team, along with the planning minister, finance minister and PM’s Special Assistant Zaheer and the law secretary.
The PM directed the legal team to share the draft with other political parties for their input.
“We will legally protect our soldiers in their fight against terrorists,” PM Sharif told the meeting. He also directed that instances of terrorism or sectarian violence against minorities should also be included in the schedule of offences against terrorists.
“We want to make the country a safer place for every Pakistani regardless of the individual’s faith or ethnicity,” said the PM.
PM FINALISES 16 COMMITTEES ON NAP IMPLEMENTATION:
The premier also finalised the constitution of an umbrella committee and 15 sub-committees related to the implementation of the NAP.
The PM’s office issued a notification containing the composition of the committees and a time-frame for submission of their recommendations.
The main committee tasked with the implementation of NAP on counter-terrorism will be headed by the PM and comprise the interior minister, finance minister, planning minister, Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, SAFRON Minister Abdul Qadir Baloch, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Governor Sardar Mehtab, Advisor to PM on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz and PM’s Special Assistant Zafarullah.
The 15 sub-committees, focusing on various anti-terror strategies, are as follows:
COUNTER-TERRORISM FORCE:
The premier has formed a sub-committee, to be headed by the interior minister and comprising ministers of finance and defence, Military Operations (MO) DG Major General Aamer Riaz, secretaries of finance and interior and NACTA coordinator, to recommend steps for establishing and deploying a dedicated Counter-Terrorism Force.
The premier has directed that the deployment of the force be completed by May 31, 2015, and has also directed the finance minister to work out the cash flow requirement for raising the force by December 31.
ELIMINATING ARMED MILITIAS:
The premier formed a sub-committee headed by the interior minister which is assigned to propose an action plan within three days on the elimination of armed militias.
The committee comprises of ISI DG, Intelligence Bureau (IB) DG Aftab Sultan, MO DG, all provincial home secretaries, including those of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), Gilgit Baltistan (GB) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, NACTA national coordinator and the interior secretary.
UNPLUGGING TERRORIST COMMUNICATION NETWORKS:
The interior minister will also head a sub-committee assigned to recommend steps within three days on how to dismantle the communication networks of terrorist organisations and tangible measures against the use of internet and social media for terrorism.
NO MORE MONEY TO TERRORIST ORGANISATIONS:
Further, the premier has also formed a sub-committee under the finance minister, tasked to submit recommendations on choking finances for terrorists and terrorist organisations. State Bank Governor Ashraf Mehmood Wathra, ISI DG, interior secretary, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Tariq Bajwa, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) DG Akbar Hoti and the finance secretary will be part of the committee.
TERRORIST GLORIFICATION BY MEDIA:
Another sub-committee, to be headed by the information minister, will put forth recommendations on the banning of any glorification of terrorism and terrorist organisations by print and electronic media. The panel will comprise the interior minister, planning minister, PM’s Special Assistants Siddiqui, Zafarullah and the information secretary.
RE-EMERGENCE OF BANNED ORGANISATIONS:
The interior minister will also head another sub-body to recommend measures against the re-emergence of proscribed organisations. The committee also comprises of ISI DG, IB DG, all home secretaries and the interior secretary.
REVAMPING CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM:
Furthermore, the interior minister will also head a sub-committee on the revamping and reforming the criminal justice system to strengthen counter-terrorism departments, including granting of powers to the provincial CIDs to intercept terrorist communications. Besides others, the sub-body also comprises of interior secretary, all provincial secretaries, representatives of the ISI, IB and law secretary. The recommendations will be finalised within a week.
HATE SPEECH, EXTREMIST MATERIAL:
Another sub-committee, also headed by the interior minister, has been tasked with furnishing recommendations within three days on the subject of countering hate speech and extremist material.
The panel consists of the ministers of religious affairs, planning and information, ISI DG, IB DG, Pakistan Television MD, all provincial home secretaries and Auqaf departments, NACTA’s national coordinator and the interior secretary.
RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION:
Another sub-committee was tasked to furnish a report within three days on taking effective steps against religious persecution. Headed by interior minister, the body will consist of the minister and secretary of religious affairs, the interior secretary, all provincial police officers, IGPs of GB, AJK and ICT, all home secretaries and Auqaf departments and NACTA coordinator.
REGUALTING MADRASSAS:
The interior minister will also head a sub-committee on the registration and regulation of madrassas. The body will hold meetings with various organisations of the Wifaqul Madaris and furnish the report within two weeks. The committee comprises of the minister and secretary of religious affairs, State Minister for Education Balighur Rehman, all home secretaries and Auqaf departments.
SECTARIAN STRIFE:
The sub-committee tasked with presenting recommendations on subject of dealing firmly with sectarian terrorism within a week will be headed by the interior minister and comprised of IB DG, all provincial police officers, home secretaries and heads of counter terrorism departments, besides the interior secretary and the NACTA coordinator.
AFGHAN REFUGEES:
Furthermore, the interior minister will also head a sub- committee to furnish recommendations within a week on the formulation of a comprehensive policy to deal with the issue of Afghan refugees, banning registration of all unregistered illegal refugees. KP governor, SAFRON minister, NADRA chairman and other senior officials will be part of the body.
FATA REFORMS:
The PM also formed a sub-committee under the KP governor, which will furnish recommendations within a week on administrative and development reforms in FATA, with an immediate focus on rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). Ministers for finance, planning and SAFRON, as well as the economic affairs secretary, Corps Commander 11 Corps Peshawar and FATA chief secretary will be part of the committee.
KARACHI OPERATION:
Another sub-body, formed under the interior minister will present its recommendations within three days on the subject of taking the ongoing operation in Karachi to its logical conclusion. Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, Rangers DG and other senior officials will be part the body.
NO MILITANCY IN PUNJAB:
Another sub-committee, to be headed by the interior minister, has been assigned to recommend measures within three days on “zero tolerance for militancy” in some parts of Punjab. ISI and IB DGs, home secretary and provincial police officer are members of the committee.
