National Action Plan should be strictly implemented: Col. (R) Shuja Khanzada

Lahore: Provincial Minister for Home Col. (R) Shuja Khanzada has said that National Action Plan for the elimination of terrorism should be strictly implemented and indiscriminate action should be taken against terrorists irrespective of any consideration of sect and social status for restoring peace in the country. He said that zero tolerance policy should be adopted for this purpose.

He was presiding over a meeting of senior police officers at Civil Secretariat, here today. The Minister said that Apex committees headed by Chief Ministers of the provinces and comprising corps commanders, heads of Rangers, sensitive institutions and senior officers of police are planning and monitoring the operation against terrorists. He said that the country is facing extraordinary situation and all security agencies have been put on high alert while operation against terrorists is continuing.

Col. (R) Shuja Khanzada stressed the need for checking security arrangements made by educational institutions on daily basis. He said it has been decided that police force will play the role of frontline force against terrorists and realizing the importance of raising the morale of police, Chief Minister Punjab has increased the amount of compensation for the martyred police officials. He said that an amount of one crore rupees will be given to heirs of police officials who will sacrifice their lives in the line of duty. He said that police officials of grade-1 to 7 will be given 7-marla house, Grade-8 to 15 10-marla house, Grade 16 to 17 one kanal house while Grade 18 and above two kanal house. Similarly, he said that children of the martyrs will be given free education upto university level. Meanwhile, widow and children of martyrs will be recruited in police in accordance with their educational qualification, he added.

The Home Minister further said that under National Action Plan, police with the help of concerned agencies is continuing operation against terrorists which will continue till complete elimination of terrorism from the province. He said that the process of registration of religious seminaries is also continuing speedily under National Action Plan and instructions have been issued to all religious seminaries in this regard while advertisements are also being given in print and electronic media.

Col. Shuja Khanzada directed that no religious seminary or mosque be allowed to deliver speeches to hurt the religious sentiments of other sects. He stressed upon police officials to perform their duties efficiently and honestly and spare no effort for rooting out terrorism and maintenance of law and order in the society.