ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The National Coordinator National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) Ihsan Ghani has admitted that the progress on some elements of anti-terror National Action Plan (NAP) has been slow.
While briefing the meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior chaired by Rana Shamim Ahmad Khan in Islamabad on Tuesday, Ihsan Ghani said that the NAP implementation required resources, legislation and support of international and other partners which was a time consuming exercise.
The committee was though informed that the effective implementation of NAP registered significant improvement in overall law and order and internal security situation in Pakistan including visible downward trend in terrorism incidents that established writ of the government.
It was apprised that terrorist attacks were decreased by 27 percent in the Country in the year 2016 as 734 incidents took place as compared to 1010 attacks of terrorism in the year 2015.
Ihsan Ghani told that according to US Country report on terrorist attacks, deaths from terrorist attacks in 2016 were down by 12.14 percent as 955 people died that year while 1087 citizens lost lives in 2015.
The National Coordinator NACTA said that because of success in Karachi operation, target killings have come down by 97 percent, murder rate has decreased by 87 percent, terrorism incidents have reduced by 98 percent and robberies have come down by 52 percent while 33,378 weapons have been recovered.
Talking about problem of militancy in Punjab, he said that there is visible improvement in law and order situation in the province.
The NACTA Chief said that security situation in Balochistan province has also improved, and the surrender and rehabilitation of outlaws and feraris are in progress.
Ihsan Ghani told that 98.3 million SIMs have been blocked, and biometric verification system has been put in place to stop misuse of communication network by criminal elements.
The Committee was further told that the Federal Cabinet has approved the repatriation and management policy for Afghan refugees. It was told that the Proof of Registration (POR) Cards of Afghan refugees were valid upto December 31, 2017 and visa forms were developed to streamline the movement of Afghan citizens across the border.
The National Coordinator NACTA said that the tripartite agreement for voluntary repatriation of Afghan refugees has been extended for one more year. He said that the Ministry of States and Frontier Regions in consultation with National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has finalized the operational plan for documentation of unregistered Afghan refugees.
A draft National Refugee Law had been developed and shared with relevant stakeholders, Ihsan Ghani added.
In addition, he said that Madaris are considered as partners and supporters, adding that their data forms are being finalized in consultation with religious scholars and federal and provincial stakeholders. He added that implementation on the data collection project would start soon and there would be uniform system of audit and account for Madaris.
Ishan Ghani also said that the Federal Cabinet had approved in principle recommendations of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) reform committee.
