ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif finalised on Saturday the constitution of an umbrella committee and 15 sub-working groups related to the implementation of the National Action Plan and has set a time-frame for all panels to submit their recommendations on eliminating terrorism in Pakistan.
The PM’s office issued a notification containing the composition of the committees and a time-frame for submission of recommendations.
The main committee tasked with the implementation of National Action Plan on counter-terrorism will be headed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and will comprise Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Minister for Safron Abdul Qadir Baloch, Governor Sardar Mehtab, Advisor to PM on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz and Special Assistant to PM on Parliamentary Affairs Barrister Zafarullah Khan.
The 15 sub-working group, focusing on various anti-terror strategies, are as follows:
Armed militias
Further, the premier has also formed a sub-committee, to be headed by the interior minister, and assigned to propose an action plan within three days on the elimination of armed militias.
The committee comprises of DG Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt General Rizwan Akhtar, DG Intelligence Bureau (IB) Aftab Sultan, DG Military Operations (MO) Major General Aamer Riaz, all provincial home secretaries, including those of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, the Nacta national coordinator and the interior secretary.
Hate speech, extremist material
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 panel consists of the ministers of religious affairs, planning and information, DG ISI, DG IB, MD Pakistan Television, all provincial home secretaries and Auqaf departments, Nacta’s national coordinator and the interior secretary.
Finances of terrorist organisations
Further, the premier has also formed a sub-committee under the finance minister, tasked to submit recommendations on choking finances for terrorists and terrorist organisations. Governor of the State Bank Ashraf Mehmood Wathra, DG ISI, interior secretary, FBR Chairman Tariq Bajwa, DG FIA Akbar Hoti and the finance secretary will be part of the committee.
Re-emergence of banned organisations
The interior minister will also head another sub-body to recommend measures against the re-emergence of proscribed organisations. The committee also comprises of DG ISI, DG IB, all home secretaries and the interior secretary.
Counter-terrorism force
Another sub-committee, also headed by the interior minister and comprising ministers of finance and defence, DG MO, secretaries of finance and interior and Nacta’s coordinator, has been assigned to recommend steps for establishing and deploying a dedicated Counter- Terrorism Force.
The prime minister has directed that the deployment of the force be completed by May 31, 2015, and has also directed the finance minister to work out the cash flow requirement for raising the force by December 31.
Religious persecution
Another sub-committee was tasked to furnish a report on taking effective steps against religious persecution. Headed by interior minister, the body will consist of the minister and secretary of religious affairs, the interior secretary, all provincial police officers, IGPs of GB, AJK and ICT, all home secretaries and Auqaf departments and NACTA coordinator.
Madrassah regulation
Interior Minister Khan will also head a sub-committee on the registration and regulation of madrassas. The body will hold meetings with various organisations of the Wifaq-ul-Madaris and furnish the report within two weeks. The committee comprises of the minister and secretary of religious affairs, State Minister for Education Balighur Rehman, all home secretaries and Auqaf departments.
Terrorist glorification by media
Another sub-committee, to be headed by the information minister, will put forth recommendations on the banning of any glorification of terrorism and terrorist organisations by print and electronic media. The panel will comprise the interior minister, SAPM Irfan Siddiqui, Zafarullah Khan and the information secretary.
Fata reforms
The prime minister also formed a sub-committee under the K-P governor, which will furnish recommendations within a week on administrative and development reforms in Fata, with an immediate focus on rehabilitation of IDPs. Ministers for finance, planning and Safron, as well as the economic affairs secretary, Corps Commander 11 Corps Peshawar and Fata chief secretary will be part of the committee.
Dismantling terrorist communication networks
The interior minister will also 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 the use of internet and social media for terrorism.
Karachi operation
Another sub-body, formed under Nisar Ali Khan, will present its recommendations within three days on the subject of taking the ongoing operation in Karachi to its logical conclusion. Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, DG Rangers and other senior officials will be part the body.
Punjab
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. DG ISI, DG IB, home secretary and provincial police officer are members of the committee.
Sectarian terrorism
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 comprised of DG IB, all provincial police officers, home secretaries and heads of counter terrorism departments, besides the interior secretary and the Nacta coordinator.
Afghan refugees
Interior Minister Nisar Ali Kahn will also 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, banning registration of all unregistered illegal refugees. The K-P governor, Safron minister, NADRA chairman and other senior officials will be part of the body.
Criminal justice reforms
Furthermore, Nisar Ali Khan will also head a sub-committee n the revamping and reforming the criminal justice system to strengthen counter-terrorism departments, including granting of powers to the provincial CIDs to intercept terrorist communications. Besides others, the sub-body also comprised of interior secretary, all provincial secretaries, representatives of the ISI, IB and law secretary. The recommendations will be finalised within a week.