Police’s anti-terror plan likely to get the nod today

Karachi
The counter-terrorism plan prepared by the Sindh police is likely to get the government’s nod on Monday (today).
In compliance with the new national policy against terrorism, the Sindh police had prepared their action plan, but the government’s approval is still pending.
A senior officer, requesting anonymity, told The News on Sunday that a meeting would take place at the Chief Minister’s House on Monday.
“The chief minister is expected to approve the plan at the meeting,” he added.
After the federal government had announced its National Action Plan in the wake of a horrific attack on a school in Peshawar, all provinces chalked out and implemented their counter-terrorism policies, particularly Punjab.
But Sindh still lags behind others. The Sindh police had finalised their counter-terrorism plan. It was prepared by Crime Investigation Department chief SSP Amir Farooqi on the orders of the provincial police chief. Afterwards, it was sent to the provincial government for approval.
As per the plan, there will be a provincial counter-terrorism authority that will receive and collate data and disseminate and coordinate between all relevant stakeholders to formulate threat assessments with periodical reviews to be presented to the government for making adequate and timely efforts to counter terrorism and extremism.
It will also coordinate and prepare counter-extremism and counter-terrorism strategies and review them on a periodical basis.
Besides, the authority will coordinate with international entities and review laws and suggest amendments to the federal government.
It will also appoint a committee of experts from the government and non-governmental organisations for deliberations over its mandate and functions.
The authority will be able to execute the policies issued by the government and to prescribe terms and conditions of the employees and grant additional allowances or any other incentives.
The authority will possess financial and administrative power for effective administration and to engage any person or entity on a contractual basis to carry out assignments.

Counter-terrorism dept
The formation of a counter-terrorism department (CTD) is a chief component of the plan.
The officer said that after the formation of the CTD, all the units operating under the Crime Investigation Department would be dissolved. Their officers, he added, would then become part of the CTD units.
Presently, the CID has 780 personnel, including SSPs, SPs, DSPs, inspectors, sub-inspectors, ASIs, head constables and constables.
The CTD will be headed by a DIG and have three SSPs running the operations, investigation and an intelligence unit.
The official said 1,500 more cops would be inducted into the CTD.
Overall, the CTD will have 2,600 officers and officials. It will also recruit personnel from the Special Security Unit and the Rapid Response Force.
The CTD personnel will not be transferred to any other unit of the police department and their promotions will be based on performance and course qualification.
They will be stationed at single place in a separate police lines in well-fortified barracks having all facilities of lodging and bordering, including training and recreational facilities.
The CTD will focus on terrorism, particularly monitoring the activities at madrasas.
It will conduct a survey throughout the province to ascertain the number of madrasas, check their registration status and trace their funding. The CTD will also review joint interrogation reports.