report in The Express Tribune, Dec 8, 2020
ISLAMABAD: The home ministry on Monday ordered provincial governments to take effective measures against armed wings of political and religious parties.
A letter issued to the provinces by the home ministry maintained that various political and religious parties have formed their own militias, wearing uniforms like the armed forces, in violation of Article 256 of the Constitution and the third point of the National Action Plan (NAP).
The letter further started that the security situation may worsen if action is not taken, adding that these organisations are setting a wrong example and will create a negative image of the country.
The home ministry directed that the provincial governments should take immediate notice of the situation, and the federal government offered all possible assistance in this matter.
Addressing a seminar in July this year, Interior Minister Brig (retd) Ijaz Shah said the implementation of the NAP against terrorism was among the government’s top priorities.
“The graph of terrorist activities has witnessed a gradual decline,” he told the participants of the Command and Leadership Programme 2020 at the National Defence University, Islamabad.
“This allowed the government to embark upon initiatives to curb radical tendencies, extremism and intolerance in the society through people-to-people and people-to-state initiatives,” he added.
The minister said the unprecedented success achieved against the scourge of terrorism had become a reality due to national resilience, effective state policies and sacrifices of the security and law enforcement apparatus.
