ISLAMABAD, July 24: The centre has directed the provinces to take effective measures to curb sectarianism and set up special units to eradicate terrorism. The directive was conveyed to the provinces by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz at a high-level meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Secretariat to review the law and order situation in the country.
The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Interior Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, Minister of State for Interior Zafar Warraich, Secretary for Interior Syed Kamal Shah, Additional Secretary for Interior Chaudary Qamar Zaman, FIA director-general Tariq Pervez, Islamabad Chief Commissioner Khalid Pervez, all home secretaries and inspectors general of the four provinces, AJK, Northern Areas and Islamabad.
The prime minister directed the participants to monitor activities of proscribed organisations and ban misuse of loudspeakers, publishing hatred material and objectionable speeches.
He expressed concern over the law and order situation in Balochistan, Waziristan and Northern Areas and the recent bomb blasts in Karachi.
He asked police officers to have zero tolerance for crime and adopt a proactive strategy to eliminate crimes.
Mr Aziz said law-enforcement agencies should have a two-pronged strategy and both curative and preventive steps should be taken to provide security and justice to people, which was the prime responsibility of the government.
He asked law-enforcement agencies to improve the intelligence system and keep a vigilant eye on elements behind crimes to prevent their future incidence.
The prime minister directed federal authorities concerned and the provincial governments to keep an eye on hate material circulation in certain parts of the country and give exemplary punishment to those involved in attempts to vitiate harmony in the country.
Referring to root causes of crimes, Mr Aziz said such acts stem from lack of education, absence of economic opportunities, deprivation and complexities to law and order situation.
The government, he said, was making efforts to address the root causes of terrorism and other crimes. “It is working on creation of jobs, providing more economic opportunities and better facilities of education to people throughout the country,” he said.
