islamabad - The interior minister yesterday directed the Capital Development Authority to rebuild the D-Chowk immediately to make it ‘no go’ area for protestors in future.
While chairing a meeting at the ministry of interior, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan asked the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to redesign the D-Chowk area where the pro-Mumtaz Qadri protestors had gathered and crippled the life in the capital for four days. However, the minister would seek approval of the Cabinet before establishing a new structure in the Red Zone area.
“It has been decided that in future no public gathering of any kind will be allowed in D-Chowk,” a statement of interior ministry said quoting Chaudhry Nisar. He directed CDA to start dismantling the present structure at D-Chowk immediately so that the whole area is properly redesigned and is made more purposeful. He said that it is quite unfortunate that the Parade Lane (D-Chowk) is used for political and other purposes, which not only jeopardises the security of entire Red Zone, including that of the important buildings in the vicinity, but also creates huge inconvenience for the residents and working class of the federal capital. He directed CADD and interior ministry to formulate comprehensive proposal for approval of the cabinet.
Ordering immediate crackdown against proclaimed offenders of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and blockage of their CNICs (computerized national identity cards) and passports, the minister directed ICT police to prepare digital database of all proclaimed offenders in coordination with National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA). He said that besides mutual sharing of database between FIA and ICT police about the proclaimed offenders, a comprehensive and integrated strategy should be followed to apprehend these criminals and producing them before courts of law.
The chair underscored critical role of administration and police in maintenance of law and order and ensuring safety and security of public and private properties in the capital. He said that any dereliction on part of administration in performance of their core functions is unacceptable.
The minister also reviewed the progress into the arrests of NADRA employees who were involved into corruption and issuance of CNICs to foreigners. He directed chairman NADRA and FIA authorities to gear up efforts to purge the organisation of all corrupt elements.
The meeting also decided to initiate home delivery service of passports internationally and provide this facility to overseas Pakistanis across the globe. The director general passports informed the minister that online renewal facility of passport is ready to be launched. He said that initially the facility would be available to Pakistani expatriates across the globe and later on it would be extended to all major cities of the country. The secretary as well as special secretary interior, secretary CADD, chairman CDA, chairman NADRA, chief commissioner ICT, and officers of ICT police as well as FIA attended the meeting besides other officials.