ISLAMABAD - Expressing firm commitment and resolve to show zero tolerance toward terrorists, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday formed an umbrella committee and 15 sub-committees to deal with different aspects of the overall national effort against militancy and terrorism.
Notification of all these bodies was issued by the Prime Minister’s Office without any delay.
He set timeframe for all these bodies for submission of their recommendations regarding a variety of subjects related to the implementation of the National Action Plan and give direction for early activation of National Counter-Terrorism Authority (Nacta).
The prime minister was chairing a follow-up meeting on the implementation of the National Action Plan at the PM’s House. The legal and constitutional team presented the first draft of the proposed amendments in the constitution to the PM for establishment of special trial courts to expeditiously deal with the cases of hardcore terrorists.
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, Special Assistants to PM Irfan Siddiqui, Khawaja Zaheer Ahmed and Barrister Zafarullah, and Attorney General Salman Aslam Butt along with other senior officers attended the meeting. The proposed amendments are meant to try the elements involved in execution, abetting and financing of mass murders.
The prime minister asked his legal team to share the draft with other political parties and take their input as well. He said the government has made an iron resolve to deal with miscreant elements with a heavy hand. The government is committed to take all necessary steps to ensure that blood spilled in Peshawar carnage does not go waste, he said.
The prime minister emphasized on seamless coordination between law enforcement agencies as well as among the provincial governments and the Centre to achieve optimum results within a short period of time. He directed the interior minister to furnish the recommendations regarding the activation of Nacta by 31 of this month so that the body could be put in action at the earliest.
Sources aware of the deliberations of the meeting informed The Nation that Nawaz Sharif made it loud and clear to show zero tolerance toward militants and stressed the need of coordinated and concerted efforts to deal with the menace.
The main committee, tasked with the implementation of National Action Plan, will be headed by the Prime Minister himself and comprise Interior Minister Ch Nisar Ali Khan, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, SAFRON Minister Abdul Qadir Baloch, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mehtab, Adviser to PM on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz and Special Assistant to PM on Parliamentary Affairs Barrister Zafarullah Khan.
The prime minister formed a sub-committee under the head of the interior minister and assigned it to propose an action plan within three days on the issue of elimination of armed militias. The committee comprises interior secretary, Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General Lt-Gen Rizwan Akhtar, Intelligence Bureau DG Aftab Sultan, Director General Military Operations (DGMO) Maj-Gen Aamer Riaz, all provincial home secretaries and secretaries of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), Gilgit- Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir and national coordinator of Nacta.
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 body consists of ministers for religious affairs, planning and information, director generals of ISI and IB, Pakistan Television managing director, all provincial home secretaries and Auqaf departments, Nacta national coordinator and interior secretary.
One sub-committee formed under the finance minister will submit recommendations within three days on choking financing for terrorists and terrorist organisations. State Bank of Pakistan Governor Ashraf Mehmood Wathra, ISI DG, secretary interior, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Tariq Bajwa, Federal Intelligence Agency (FIA) DG Akbar Hoti and finance secretary will be part of the body.
The interior minister will head another sub-body to recommend measures within three days to ensure prevention of reemergence of proscribed organisations. This body also comprises DGs of ISI and IB, all home secretaries and interior secretary.
Yet another sub-committee headed by interior minister and comprising ministers for finance and defence, DGMO, secretaries of finance and interior and Nacta coordinator has been assigned to recommend steps on establishing and deploying a dedicated Counter-Terrorism Force. The prime minister desired to complete the deployment of the force by May 31, 2015. He directed the finance minister to work out the cash flow requirement for raising the force by December 31, 2014.
One sub-committee was tasked to furnish report within three days on taking effective steps against religious persecution. Headed by interior minister, the body will consist of minister and secretary of religious affairs, interior secretary, police chiefs of all provinces, GB, AJK and Islamabad, all home secretaries and heads of Auqaf departments and Nacta coordinator.
Ch Nisar will also head a sub-committee on registration and regulation of madrassas. The body will hold meetings with various organisations of the Wifaq-ul-Madaris within three days and furnish the report within two weeks. The committee comprises minister and secretary of religious affairs, State Minister for Education Balighur Rehman, all home secretaries and Auqaf departments secretaries.
A sub-committee, to be headed by information minister and comprising ministers for interior and planning, Special Assistants to PM Irfan Siddiqui and Zafarullah Khan and secretary information, will furnish recommendations on the subject of banning glorification of terrorism and terrorist organisations through print and electronic media.
The prime minister formed a sub-committee under convenership of KPK governor to furnish recommendations within a week on administrative and development reforms in Fata with immediate focus on return of internally displaced persons (IDPs). Ministers for finance, planning and Safron, economic affairs secretary, Fata chief secretary and Commander 11 Corps (Peshawar Corps), will be part of the committee.
The interior minister will 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 abuse of Internet and social media for terrorism.
Another sub-body formed under the convenership of Ch Nisar will present its recommendations within three days on the subject of taking the ongoing operation in Karachi to its logical conclusion. Sindh Governor Ishratul Ebad, Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, DG Rangers and other senior officials will be part of the body.
Yet 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. DGs of ISI and IB, home secretary and provincial police officer will be the members.
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 comprise IB DG, all provincial police officers, home secretaries and heads of counter-terrorism departments, besides secretary interior and Nacta coordinator.
Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan will head another sub-committee to furnish recommendations within a week on the formulation of a comprehensive policy to deal with the issue of Afghan refugees and banning registration of all unregistered illegal refugees. KP governor, Safron minister, National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) chairman and other senior officials will be part of the body.
The information minister will head a sub-committee assigned by the prime minister to furnish recommendations within a week on the revamping and reforming the criminal justice system to strengthen counter-terrorism departments including granting of powers to the provincial criminal investigation departments (CIDs) to intercept terrorist communications. Besides others, the sub-body also comprises interior secretary, all provincial secretaries, representatives of ISI, IB and law secretary.