Killing of LeJ chief Malik Ishaq was part of NAP, says Punjab home minister

• Khanzada says Rs 550m ‘doubtful’ funding of madrassas, NGOs frozen

Punjab Home Minister Col (r) Shuja Khanzada Thursday said that banned terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Jhangvi’s chief Malik Ishaq was killed by the counter-terrorism department in accordance with the National Action Plan.

Addressing a seminar on climate change organised by GreenSafe Foundation and Unified Media Club of Pakistan, Khanzada said that the National Action Plan was being implemented in Punjab since January this year. He added that intelligence based operations were being conducted throughout the province and the operation against Malik Ishaq was also a part of the plan. “Action will be taken where ever the state’s interest is compromised,” he added.

He further said that the provincial government has frozen Rs 550 million ‘doubtful’ funding of some madrassas and NGOs.

“95 per cent madrassas are working properly except a few which are involved in terrorism related activities,” he said, adding that a number of persons involved in such activities had been arrested and this had also resulted in a dip in terrorism in Punjab. Moreover, geo tagging of 13,800 madrasas had been completed in the province, he added.

To a question about Youhanabad incident, he said that culprits had been traced and their linked with Jamaatul Ahrar faction of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan has been established. The minister said that the details would soon be provided in another press conference.

Speaking on issue of climate change and floods, he said that glaciers were melting for last 15-years in Pakistan and if the process continued then after 25-30 years, glaciers could be seen in pictures only.

He said that it is forecast that the global temperature would rise one degree but Pakistan’s atmospheric temperature would rise more than one degree which would cause floods and devastation. The minister emphasised the need to make a joint strategy to address the issue. He said that Kalabagh Dam was a immediate solution of the problem as it would not only increase our storage capacity and produce more electricity, but it would help in stopping floods.

The minister said that tree felling was another problem which was causing erosion along rivers. However, this problem could be overcome in future if immediate measures were taken in this regard.

He said that the government was making arrangements to handle floods from March this year in light of previous flood experience and many meetings were held in this regard. He said that river banks were strengthened and 300-high powered boats were also purchased to work for relief activities in the province. Every week 20 boats were arriving and these were being handed over to Pakistan Army and districts for relief efforts, he added.

He said that 141 relief camps were established throughout the province where meals were being provided to 10,777 persons. Shuja said that 123,272 persons were rescued and shifted to safe locations whereas medical aid was provided to 27,141 persons in 150 medical camps and other mobile medical facilities.

He said that 12 persons lost their lives in different flood-related incidents and compensation was paid through district co-ordination officers to the heirs of every victim.

He said that a total of 2.8 million persons and 25,000 acre agriculture land was affected due to floods in the province.

The minister said that Flood Commission Report-2010 was implemented in letter and spirit and its recommendation were complied with in three stages.

President Green Save Foundation Yasir Bin Naseer, Environment Expert Asif Ali Sial and others also spoke on the occasion and underlined needs to handle growing issue of floods and climate change.

IG ORDERS ARREST OF PEOPLE PROTESTING ISHAQ’S DEATH: 

Inspector General Punjab Police has directed all the district police officers to arrest anyone protesting against the killing of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi chief Malik Ishaq.

According to reports, the IG issued the direction during an emergency meeting. The high level meeting decided that police across the province should keep itself ready to deal with any emergency situation.