National
Counter Terrorism Authority Briefing
Recently the Coordinator National Counter Terrorism Authority
(Nacta) Ihsan Ghani has revealed the successes of National Action Plan being carried out by the Civilian and Military leadership to eliminate terrorism and extremism from the country. Mr. Ihsan while briefing said that almost 70,000 terrorists had so far been
arrested in the country under the National Action Plan (NAP). 8,852 armed militants and from banned outfits were
arrested from different parts and 11 others were killed in retaliation.
Under
the National Action Plan (NAP), 14,000 people had been arrested through the
established helpline 1717. 126 accounts
with accumulated deposits of over Rs1 billions of banned organizations had been
frozen. Due to Karachi operation there
was 70 percent reduction in target killings and murders and 80 percent reduction
in terrorist incidents in the port city. A total of 69,179 criminals, 890
terrorists, 676 proclaimed offenders, 10,426 absconders, 124 kidnappers, 545
extortionists and 1,834 murderers were also apprehended and 16,306 weapons
seized during the Karachi operation. Meanwhile Concrete efforts were being made
to ensure that extremists do not get a foothold in Punjab. Over 1,130 hardcore elements were pointed out
in Punjab and 649 persons were booked for facilitating hate speeches. In
Baluchistan 625 Fararis had surrendered to the authorities concerned and the
government was in contact with estranged Baloch nationalists. The deadline for
the return of registered Afghan refugees had been set at December 31st this
year. Similarly, a total of 2,159
terrorists have been killed and 1,724 arrested by law enforcement agencies
under the NAP. According to the report, 332 persons had been executed under the
Anti-Terrorism Act so far.
Furthermore
98.3 million SIMs had been blocked for dismantling communication networks of
terrorists. At least 933 URLs and
10 websites of militant organizations have also been blocked by the Ministry of
Information Technology. 2,337 cases were registered over hate speeches and hate
material while 2,195 people were arrested and 73 shops sealed. Likewise, 9,164
cases were registered, 9,340 persons were arrested and 2,452 pieces of
equipment confiscated for misuse of loudspeakers.
Under
NAP, 8,195 persons were included in ‘fourth schedule’ and movement of 2,052
people was restricted as measures against re-emergence of proscribed organisations
and individuals. Uniform registration and data form was developed by NACTA and Ittehad-e-Tanzeemat-e-Madaris
Pakistan (ITMP) and shared with stakeholders for registration and regulation of
madressahs.
As
many as 167 madressahs in Sindh, 13 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and two in Punjab
were closed.
Under
the NAP, list of activists and proscribed organizations was shared with the
information ministry and PEMRA for strict implementation of ban on glorification
of terrorism in media.
A
committee headed by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj
Aziz was constituted for Fata reforms.
Two Years achievements of Operation
Zarb-e-Azb
On
June 15, 2014 Operation Zarb-e-Azb was started with the aimed of rooting out
menace of terrorism. Two years have passed since the start of Operation
Zarb-e-Azb and law and order situation has significantly been improved.
The
security situation was very precarious when the government took power. The
mosques, churches, markets and other place had become soft targets of the
terrorists.
At
that time, the incumbent government and the security forces with the mutual
consensus initiated decisive action against terrorism. Now, peace has largely
been restored in the country. Especially, people of Karachi are now carrying
out their day to day activities without any fear.
The
phenomenal gains made in the first two years of Zarb-e-Azb became possible only
because of a national consensus and single-mindedness among all stakeholders
and key institutions for which the federal and provincial governments,
political parties, Parliament, the Supreme Court and armed forces deserve
immense acclaim and approbation.
The
federal government and political parties hammered out a consensus and accorded
political ownership to the military campaign; the parliament passed the
requisite amendments in the Constitution and the army law; the Supreme Court
validated these changes; and the armed forces carried out the operation in an
exceptional manner. Every institution earned kudos and congratulations for its
role.
The
accomplishments achieved by Pakistan’s security apparatus in two years are felt
by all and sundry. The fruits of the Zarb-e-Azb are matchless, and the nation
is beholden to the armed forces and all other state institutions and political
players, who, setting aside their differences on other issues, joined hands
against terrorists.
The
operation was launched in phases and people were provided opportunity to be shifted
to safe areas. The terrorists’ hideouts were destroyed in Shawal and many
operations were carried out in Fata and Swat for establishing writ of the
government with sacrifices of the troops.
Intelligence
Based Operations (IBOs) and combing operations were carried out in the four
provinces to stop terrorists from spreading. Operations were also undertaken
against the facilitators with the help and cooperation of the citizens.
Facts & Findings
During
the operation, 7,591 IEDs, 35,310 mortar bombs and rockets and 2,481 land mines
and suicide jackets were recovered. The troops seized about 253 tons of
explosive which according to some calculations was enough for the terrorists to
make ammunition and IEDs for 15 years.
During
the two years operation 3,500 terrorists were killed and 992 of their hideouts
were destroyed. In achieving this, 490 troops lost their lives while 2108
others were wounded. The wounded included those who had either lost their legs
or arms or eyes or much more. It was no less embarrassment that a real no-go
area also existed in the tribal belt. Because
of restoration of law and order, Sixty-one per cent of the IDPs have returned,
while the remaining ones would be back by the end of the year.
During
the rehabilitation phase in Fata, schools, mosques and markets were being built
and basic infrastructure was being developed and 700 kilometer long road was
being built in Waziristan. The new wings of FC and para-military forces were
being raised to man the check posts allowing the visitors after proper
verification along 2600km porous border with Afghanistan.
Alongside
Zarb-i-Azb in North Waziristan, the army had initiated IBOs in other parts of
the country to pre-empt threat of backlash. So far 19,347 IBOs had been carried
out in which 213 terrorists were killed. Regarding the Karachi operation, 1,203
terrorists from Al Qaeda in the Subcontinent, Lashkar-i-Jhangvi,
Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and Tehreek-i-Swat had been apprehended. This
included 636 targeted killers from proscribed organisations and political
parties.
The
fight against terrorism and extremism was a long one, which had been
successfully brought to a point where the country was getting relief. Action
against “roots of terrorism and extremism” would continue in other parts of the
country.
