“We have prepared a list of non-governmental organisations and seminaries working against national interest and whose members deliver provocative speeches,” Home Minister Col (r) Shuja Khanzada said on Thursday. Evidence will be gathered against these organisations and strict action will be taken against them, he said.
Khanzada was addressing a press conference at the Chief Minister’s Office. Punjab Police Inspector General Mushtaq Ahmad Sukhera and Law Secretary Abul Hasan Najmi were present on the occasion.
Proscribed organisations would not be allowed to operate in any capacity, Khanzada said. Strict action will be taken against terrorists and their facilitators in light of reports prepared by intelligence agencies, he said.
“All citizens have welcomed the establishment of military courts… these will become operational soon.”
The minister said all political parties, armed forces and citizens were united in the country’s war against terrorism. The government will leave no stone unturned in rooting out extremist elements from the country.
The provincial government has amended laws pertaining to misuse of loudspeakers and delivering objectionable speeches. Violation of these laws has been made non-bailable, he said. The fine and sentences in this regard have also been enhanced. “An apex committee, headed by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and the Lahore corps commander, has been set up in the Punjab. The Rangers director general and heads of intelligence agencies and law-enforcement institutions are part of the committee.”
Khanzada requested citizens to cooperate with the government and inform law enforcement agencies about any suspicious activity they might observe in their vicinities. He said that the government was taking all possible measures to protect citizens and had allocated maximum resources for the purpose.
“Operation Zarb-e-Azb has eradicated several terrorist organisations and taken out many wanted terrorists.”
He said considering the current security situation, a red alert had been issued and the army and law-enforcement agencies were working to protect citizens under a coordinated strategy.
IGP Sukehra said the provincial government and law enforcement agencies were on the same page regarding the implementation the National Action Plan.
He said a search-and-sweep operation had been initiated in the province and the police had so far registered cases against 650 suspects at various police stations.
Sukhera said the police had also seized more than 8,000 unlicensed weapons during general holdups and had impounded more than 25,000 vehicles. He said more than 2,000 cases had been registered against prayer leaders for misusing loudspeakers and more than 1,000 people had been put behind bars in this regard. He said that 328 cases had been registered against people and organisations caught publishing and distributing objectionable material and 200 persons had been arrested so far.
He said they had held several meetings with police officials and had given them detailed briefings on the action plan.
“Police have also arrested several people of Afghan descent, some of them were terrorists.”
The law secretary said that the government had issued five ordinances in this regard and had amended various laws pertaining to tenancy, security of sensitive places, illicit weapons, wall-chalking and misuse of loudspeakers.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 16th, 2015.