Provincial govts ignore guidelines to log criminals
By Mohammad Asghar
RAWALPINDI, July 14: The provincial governments have been overlooking the standard operating procedure (SOP) for compilation of information about suspected terrorists in their respective districts, an official source told Dawn on Wednesday.
The source said the provincial governments had been given an explicit guideline to follow the SOP for compilation of information about the activities of each person enlisted in category IV of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997, but these were not taking it seriously.
The issue was discussed at a high level meeting held in Islamabad recently to review the law and order situation in the country. The meeting was chaired by the interior minister, Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat.
Abdul Rauf, spokesman for the interior ministry, told this reporter that the provinces had already been provided with a printed book containing the directions to follow for compilation of information about the people involved in heinous crimes, including terrorist activities.
But, he added, it was observed that no attention was being paid in this regard. "It was lack of attention by the provincial governments," Rauf said. The provincial governments had been directed to give one copy of the book to each police station in their respective districts so that they could follow the SOP.
The provincial governments had also been directed to instruct the Station House Officers (SHOs) concerned to report activities of the criminals including their whereabouts. The individuals enlisted in Schedule IV must be directed to report to the SHO while entering or leaving the city.
The SHO will report to the district police officer (DPO) who will compile information about his district. The report will be submitted to the interior ministry by the 20th of each month.
The source said during the law and order meeting, the provincial governments had suggested some amendments to the Anti- Terrorism Act regarding the SOP. Mr Rauf said: "Though amendment in the Anti-Terrorism Act was discussed in the meeting, it had no link with the SOP."
The federal cabinet has constituted a ministerial committee to prepare recommendations for making anti-terrorist laws more effective and comprehensive. Talking to media persons on Monday, Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said the cabinet meeting discussed the country's law and order situation and took policy decisions on combating terrorism besides other issues.
