Students propose changes in NAP for better results

Karachi
The Youth Parliament Pakistan’s (YPP) National Security and Foreign Affairs committee on Thursday presented a policy paper focusing on further improving and implementing the National Action Plan (NAP)
The paper penned following a five-day training held by PILDAT (Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency) included various aspects of the security plan – formed in the aftermath of the APS Peshawar attack.
Students Rutaba Tariq, Shoaib Nehal and Nousherwan Kirmani presented the report.

Criminal justice system
Inefficiency of the criminal justice system was identified as the basic hurdle in ensuring successful implementation of the NAP. The report claimed that failure to convict terrorists and other criminals involved in heinous crimes compromised the efficacy of the judicial system which comprised of police, prosecution and the jail system.
Penalisation on irresponsible investigation, monthly monitoring of Supreme Court and High Courts as well as proper tools to evaluate evidence were direly needed for effective prosecution.
The Qanun-e-Shahdat Order, 1984 was also suggested to be amended whereas protection for judges, jails, prosecutors and witnesses be ensured at all stages of the trial.

Karachi operation
With respect to the ongoing operation in the city the report proposed elimination of political influence from within the police force. In light of the several objections raised over extra judicial killings and missing persons following the operation, a watchdog body to look over the proceedings of the operation was also suggested.
Referring to a police report which claimed that target killings had declined by 59 percent after the operation, the report maintained that a few areas still needed improvement for a long term solution to the city’s law and order situation.

Hate speech
The policy paper further emphasised on the need for effective registration of Madaris as well as coordination over the matter between Ittehad Tanzeemul Madaris Pakistan (ITMP), regional Aukaf Boards with the Federal Ministry of Religious Affairs; a central Friday sermon was also suggested to be developed and distributed to mosques countrywide by the religious affairs ministry itself.
With regard to the role of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) in curbing hate speech, the presenters stated the authority had considerable powers when it comes to regulation of the electronic media; however, it has so far only acted as a mere license granting authority.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, Federal Investigation Agency and the Ministry of Information tasked with monitoring social media had only been able to add blocking YouTube and pornographic sites to their repertoire, the report further suggested.

Border management
In the contemporary scenario, Pakistan was bearing the burden of 1.64 million registered and 1.4 million unregistered Afghan refugees respectively. The ratio of border crossing stood at 500 legal and fifteen to twenty thousand illegal border crossings per day, via Torkham border only, stated the report.
According to the policy paper foreign ministries of both Pakistan and Afghanistan needed to increase the number of meetings and discuss the paradigm of collective efforts to put a stop to illegal border crossings through increasing the number of check posts along both sides of the Durand line especially on Afghan side.

NACTA
The National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) was suggested to be put under the control of the Prime Minister. The NAP included strengthening and activating NACTA on the agenda, however, there had still not been any changes in this basic structure which brought the legal status of the authority into question, it was stated in the report.
All national security briefings were suggested to be given with consultation of Ministry of Defence and Minister of Information.
The National Industrial Security Programme (NISP) was also advised to be presented in the Senate for immediate allocation of budget.
An apex committee should be formed in consultation with both the federal and provincial governments.

Balochistan reconciliation
The report recommended initiating a meaningful dialogue with the angry Baloch leaders through a powerful mediatory committee in Baluchistan.
They also emphatically suggested that issue of missing persons should be resolved in accordance with Article 10-A of the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
They also demanded to ban and discourage formation of private militias all over the country.