9 military courts set up to try terrorists

Three courts each would be established in KP and Punjab while two courts would be set up in Sindh and one court would be set up in Balochistan

Little progress made on 11 out of 20 points of NAP, no progress seen on 9 points

Provinces slow on NAP implementation, interior minister decides to hold review meetings daily

In line with the 20-point National Action Plan (NAP) finalised by the political and military leadership of the country, the Pakistan Army on Friday announced to establish nine military courts to deal with terrorism cases across the country.

An army handout stated that initially nine military courts were being established across the country out of which three courts each would be established in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab while two courts would be set up in Sindh and one court would be set up in Balochistan.

“These courts will start functioning soon,” the official statement said.

The provincial authorities have been directed to devise a multi-faceted scrutiny process which will be fine-tuned by the Interior Ministry at the federal level after which terrorism-related cases would be forwarded to the Defence Ministry for trail in military courts.

PROVINCES SLOW ON NAP UPTAKE:

In the meanwhile, a high-level meeting held to review the implementation of NAP found out that the provincial governments were slow to react to the directions of the Interior Ministry. It was agreed during the meeting that the provinces would be directed to expedite the work on the recommendation of the political and military leadership.

Talking to Pakistan Today, a source privy to the proceedings of the meeting said that per the directions of Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, review meetings would be held daily to ensure speedy implementation of NAP recommendations.

“Out of the total 20 points of NAP, progress has been made only on 11 points,” said the source.

95 TERROR SUSPECTS IDENTIFIED:

According to the Interior Ministry’s report, the identification of Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP)-affiliates and sleeper cells is underway and the Punjab government has identified 95 suspects for alleged links with terrorist organisations.

“Efforts are underway to arrest those 95 suspects. More information and homework needs to be carried out by all provinces over the next few days in order to achieve maximum results,” the report said, adding that the intelligence agencies have also identified “a few religious seminaries” having links with terrorist organisations.

A three-tier scrutiny is under progress by the provincial and the federal government for future course of action, the report adds.

100 MILLION SIMS STILL UNIDENTIFIED:

Moreover, the meeting found out that out of a total of 140 million SIMs, only 40 million SIMs have been verified. The meeting agreed to give a 90-day schedule for verification of the SIMs. Expressing displeasure with the cellular companies’ representatives, the minister said, “Cellular companies have been eluding three governments over the past six years.”

“The minister categorically said that after the lapse of the 90-day period, no leniency will be shown towards any unverified/illegal SIM or the company owning it. It was also said that legislation has been proposed to declare issuance and use of illegal SIMs a cognizable offence,” the report stated.

REPATRIATION OF AFGHAN REFUGEES:

The meeting was informed that over 2,000 people have been arrested so far in daily combing/search operations across the country. It was also informed that registration of Afghan refugees has started in all provinces and 7,000 refugees have been registered through biometric verification in Punjab alone.

“In the next stage, these refugees will be shifted back to their camps and later a course will be devised for their repatriation to Afghanistan through UNHCR, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and after due deliberations with the Afghan Government,” the report added.

CURBING HATE LITERATURE:

“A comprehensive review is underway to identify how many of the 72 proscribed organisations are active, working under other names and/or how many of them have an armed wing, operating inside or outside the country,” the report stated.

The report added that crackdown against misuse of loudspeakers and hate material was underway and monitoring committees at provincial levels were working on destroying hate literature and curbing its dissemination. In the Federal Capital Territory alone, 176 cases were registered against the violators of Loudspeaker Act and 115 people were arrested, the report stated, adding that all provinces have been directed to initiate proactive action in this regard.

“An integrated Directorate of Internal Security supported and complemented by Joint Intelligence Directorate is being established, which will house representative of all intelligence agencies in the country, in coordination with MoI and will act as a central data centre to receive, disseminate and take follow up action on actionable intelligence received from across the country,” the report added.

NO PROGRESS AREAS:

The meeting also expressed concern over nine points of NAP on which no  progress has been made by the federal and provincial governments. Provinces have not yet been informed on action recommended against militant outfits and armed gangs. Ineffective action against literature, newspapers and magazines promoting hatred, decapitation, extremism, sectarianism and intolerance was also noted.

No step has yet been taken to identify and freeze funding of terrorists and terrorist outfits nor has any step been initiated for establishing nor deploying a dedicated counter-terrorism force, the report stated.

No step has been taken to end to religious extremism and ensure protection of minorities. The registration and regulation of religious seminaries is also yet to start. No law is made to ban glorification of terrorists and terrorist organisations through print and electronic media, the report highlighted.

Moreover, no step has been taken for administrative and development reforms in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) with focus on repatriation of internally displaced persons (IDPs). No step has been taken to dismantle communication network of terrorists. The government has also failed to take any concrete measures to stop promotion of terrorism through internet and social media.

No action has been taken against elements spreading sectarianism and the Punjab government has failed to hang Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) terrorist Ikramul Haq. The report noted that there was no progress in reforms in criminal courts system to strengthen anti-terrorism institutions including provincial Crime Investigation Departments (CIDs).