810 culprits belonging to various banned organizations arrested under NAP:Col (R) Shuja Khanzada

Lahore: Punjab Home Minister Col. (R) Shuja Khanzada has said that National Action Plan is being successfully implemented in Punjab to uproot terrorism and extremism in the province. He said that nation is united and unanimously committed to eradicate terrorism from the country and success against terrorism is the only choice for the nation.

He stated this while addressing a press conference in Commissioner Office, Rawalpindi regarding details of implementation on National Action plan and overall law and order situation in Punjab. Commissioner Rawalpindi Zahid Saeed and RPO Fakhar Sultan Raja were also present on this occasion.

He said that PML (N) governments at federal and provincial levels under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif are committed to eradicate and uproot the terrorism and extremism from the country. He said that implementation on National Action plan is being reviewed and monitored through time to time meetings of the apex committee at the provincial level and no one should be ambiguous in this regard that there would be any slackness in this respect. Punjab government and all the forces including Pakistan Army, Rangers and Police in Punjab have close coordination from top to lower ranks and National Action plan is being implemented with full focused attention in Province.

He added that those who are criticizing Punjab government regarding implementation on National Action plan are not telling the truth to the people and are trying to mislead them for getting political mileage through self concocted exaggerations.

Punjab Home Minister said that After January, this year, 14858 cases have so far been registered and 15688 culprits have been apprehended including terrorists and those who were involved in aiding and inflaming terrorism in Punjab. He added that the challans of 961 cases have been submitted in the courts and culprits have been awarded punishments in 1025 cases after trials in the courts. He said that 810 culprits belonging to various banned organizations and militant groups including TTP, Lashakar-e-Jhangvi, Ahle Sunnat wal Jamaat, JUD, Sipa-e-Muhammad and some other banned organizations have also been arrested. He disclosed that more than 40 senior leaders of such banned religious organizations have also been arrested during last couple of weeks besides having a thorough combing and scanning of madaris, NGOs and educational institutions along with getting 13804 madaris in Punjab and all of these are being geo tagged.

Col (R) Shuja Khanzada said that a thorough combing and registration is being done of Afghan Refugees and persons residing in Punjab and according to a rough estimate about one lakh 70 thousand to 2 lakh Afghanis are residing in Punjab and after registration these would be sent to their country. He added that scanners and finger index machines will be placed on all entry points of the province linking to other provinces of the country. He said that required resources are being provided to police for improvement of infra structure, logistic support, equipments and other needs for which Rs. 5 billion have been allocated by the Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif.

He further said that for implementation on National Action plan, seven laws including use of loudspeaker and amplifiers, publication of material having sectarian hatred and other laws relating to crimes have been improved and legislation have been done. He said that counter terrorism force has also been raised and two batches of 500 well trained and educated persons selected through NTS and Public Service Commission has passed out and third batch is under training. He said that the whole police system, and counter terrorism force is being revitalized. Command and Control centre has been established in Provincial capital and 8000 CCTV cameras have been installed in Lahore to ensure close monitoring. He said that the surveillance would also be ensured on modern lines in all cities of Punjab.

He further said that in result of successful implementation on National Action plan, the crime rate in Punjab has visibly decreased from 25 per cent to 30 per cent. He added that government has policy of zero tolerance against terrorism and extremism.