Banned outfit activists, human smugglers’CNICs to be blocked

Interior minister chairs high level meeting; says law and order situation witnesses marked improvement

ISLAMABAD: Tightening noose around 4th schedulers, members of proscribed organisations and human traffickers, a high level meeting with Interior Minister Ch Nisar Ali Khan in the chair Monday decided to cancel their travel documents, block their Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) and to withdraw certain facilities such as driving licences, issuance of mobile SiMs and permission to open and operate bank accounts.

"While every effort would continue towards safeguarding the rights of the citizens, we will not falter in fulfilling our commitment towards ensuring security of the motherland and checking those elements who bring bad name to the country in one way or the other," said the interior minister.

The minister said that contrary to the propaganda of detractors and panic peddlers, the law and order situation had witnessed marked improvement as a result of tireless efforts by the law enforcement agencies. "We, however, need to build on these gains and to double our efforts for further improving law and order situation," said the interior minister.

During the meeting, host of issues were discussed including various measures being taken against members of proscribed organisations, human traffickers and proclaimed offenders, the progress made so far by FIA in mega corruption cases, various measures being taken to purge FIA of corrupt elements, institutionalisation of system of rewards in various departments of Ministry of Interior, capacity building of FIA and police and efforts being made by ICT administration and ICT police towards improving law and order and making the federal capital a crime-free zone.

Security of media houses, schools, commercial markets and steps taken for community policing also came under discussion.  Discussing law and order situation in the federal capital, senior police officials briefed the minister about various measures taken so far for ensuring security of schools and media houses.

Ch Nisar also reviewed various arrangements put in place to meet any emergent law and order situation and to effectively intercept the criminals.

IG Police while briefing the minister about the new initiatives being taken by the capital police said that the IT-based new initiatives would enable police and citizens to maintain effective liaison and citizens would be able to provide their feedback about the performance of the police.

He also informed that in line with the directions of the interior minister the new recruits of police would be trained by the army personnel while refresher courses of police officials by lawyers were also being arranged to strengthen prosecution side.

The minister directed IG Police to carry out performance audit of various police stations so that those officials who were putting in extra effort could be identified and their hard work could be duly acknowledged and appreciated.

Progress on safe city project also came under discussion. The minister was informed that safe city project, presently in its test phase, had been rendering huge help to the ICT police in cubing and controlling crime rate in federal capital and had been instrumental in tracing out various criminal cases.

Islamabad deputy commissioner briefed the interior minister about the progress in campaign against agent mafia outside government offices and elements involved in adulteration and sale of substandard food.

He also informed the minister about the progress in audit of private security agencies and the notices issued to them advising them to provide their particular and other details to the administration.

The minister directed the ICT administration to continue its efforts against adulteration indiscriminately and to ensure its sustainability. He also directed that the media should be continuously kept on board so as to raise maximum awareness among the public.

The meeting decided that the licences of all those security companies which would not provide their particulars to the administration would be cancelled.     

Deputy Commissioner also briefed the minister about progress of schools' committee that was constituted to work out a solution for shifting ofschools from the residential areas in a manner that it did not cause inconvenience for the students and their parents and the entire shifting was taking place in a smooth and peaceful manner.

FIA, while briefing the minister about the progress made so far against human smugglers, said that in the ongoing campaign against human smugglers, 1,011 arrests had been made so far that included 290 proclaimed offenders, 17 most wanted traffickers, 84 court absconders and 620 general arrests.

It was informed that Economic Crime Wing of FIA in 2014-15 recovered Rs2.4 billion whereas these recoveries in 2011-12 were Rs706 million. It was informed that the Anti-Corruption Wing in 2014-15 recovered Rs14.8 billion whereas these recoveries in 2011-12 were Rs7.1 billion. About the fines imposed by the courts in anti-human smuggling cases, it was informed that during 2014-15, an amount of Rs165.05 million was imposed in various cases.