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95 organisations spreading terrorism and extremism in Punjab
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* Nawaz directs Ministry of Information Technology to take steps for blocking websites and social media platforms being used by terrorists
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Wednesday expressed government’s resolve in eradicating the menace of terrorism and extremism from the country and directed all the provincial governments to take proactive measures for ensuring speedy and effective implementation of the National Action Plan.
He said the government would take strict action against those found in glorification of terrorism and spreading hatred in any way. The Prime Minister was chairing a meeting to review progress on the implementation of National Action Plan to eliminate terrorism and extremism from the country here at the PM House. The meeting was informed that FIRs had been registered against 341 persons involved in hate speech, out of which 251 had been formally arrested, while 41 shops disseminating hate material had been closed. Action had also been taken against nearly 1100 persons on the misuse of loudspeakers.
It was informed that madrassas were being closely monitored so that spread of terrorist ideology could be checked, while 95 proscribed organizations had been identified in Punjab which were still engaged in spreading terrorism and extremism. The Prime Minister asked the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to ensure that funding to proscribed organizations was stopped. He also directed the Ministry of Information Technology to take steps for blocking websites and social media platforms being used by terrorist organizations.
The Prime Minister called a meeting of chief ministers of all provinces to comprehensively brief him on the progress made by them on the implementation of the National Action Plan next week. He said the federal government would provide all possible resources to the provincial governments but asked them to be proactive in this important matter. The Prime Minister said that a state-of-the-art rapid response force was being formed to meet the challenges posed by terrorism and extremism. This properly equipped force would be trained on modern lines and given better pay package.
In his briefing Minister for Interior, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan informed the Prime Minister that 180 miscreants had been picked up so far from various parts of Islamabad while 48 of them had been formally arrested. Similarly in Punjab 14,000 suspects had been picked up out of whom 780 were formally arrested and being investigated, he said. Other participants of the meeting included Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage, Pervaiz Rashid; Special Advisor to PM, Barrister Zafarullah, Political Secretary to PM, Dr Asif Kirmani, Secretary Interior and Attorney General, along with other senior officials.
President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday said that every possible facility would be provided to the business community to enhance trade activities in the country. They expressed these views in a combined meeting with a delegation of businessmen and industrialists at the Presidency. The prime minister earlier held a one-on-one meeting with the president. President Mamnoon said that the importance of strong economy had increased manifold in the era of globalisation and termed liberal trade policies a vital factor in this regard.
He said that the government was sincerely taking steps in right direction for the improvement of national economy and promotion of businessmen activities. He urged the business community to benefit from the trade policies of the government and mentioned the flexible business policies of the country. President Mamnoon pointed that law and order situation and energy crisis were major impediments to smooth continuation of business activities in the country and expressed hope that these issues would be overcome soon. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that the government was taking steps to facilitate industrialists and business community.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk