NAP is a big joke, devised to deceive masses, says Justice Khawaja

Published July 3, 2015
Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja also expressed his displeasure over the allocation of Rs160 million for the National Counter Terrorism Authority Pakistan (Nacta). —Courtesy: Supreme Court of Pakistan
Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja also expressed his displeasure over the allocation of Rs160 million for the National Counter Terrorism Authority Pakistan (Nacta). —Courtesy: Supreme Court of Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Terming the National Action Plan (NAP) a "big joke", the Supreme Court on Friday once again lambasted the government over its inaction over the issue during the past six months.

During the hearing, Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja remarked that NAP was devised to deceive the masses, adding that not a single bit of work was done on the plan despite the passage of six months since its inception.

The NAP was devised to eliminate terrorism from the country, in the aftermath of the Peshawar tragedy that had claimed around 150 innocent lives, most of whom were children. Similarly the Necta was also constituted to fight terrorism. It was revised in the wake of a deadliest terrorist attack on the Army Public School.

Also read :Nacta’s claim fails scrutiny

Justice Khawaja also expressed his displeasure over the allocation of Rs160 million for the National Counter Terrorism Authority Pakistan (Nacta). He also expressed concern on the foreign funding of NGOs.

He asked the government to declare the NAP as paperwork only, if it cannot implement the plan.

Know more: SC seeks details about NGOs’ source of funding

The matter relating to NGOs’ activities had cropped up during the June 23 hearing of a bail application moved by Haroonur Rashid, who was booked for alleged fraud in a business transaction. During the case, it had emerged that the parties involved had invested in a Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP)-based NGO ‘Baraan’, which was registered in Peshawar but had spread its activities to Tank, Bannu and DI Khan.

Justice Azmat Saeed, who is also a part of the three-member bench, said today that there is a consensus among all provincial governments to remain incompetent and inefficient.

Take a look: Nacta made fully operational, says Nisar

Under Nacta, terrorist funding had to be disrupted but nothing has been done in this regard, so far, he remarked.

Third member of the bench Justice Maqbool Baqir said that only Rs160 million has been allocated for Nacta, which is worthless. He also asked Attorney General (AG) Salman Aslam Butt about the expenditure of Prime Minister House and a raise made recently in this regard.

The judge also questioned if the provincial governments have issued show-cause notices to any NGO for violation of rules and regulations.

AG told the court that forensic audit would be held for suspicious NGOs. He further said that the government has been evolving a mechanism for proper monitoring of NGOs.

The three-judge bench, headed by Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja, asked the federal and provincial governments to furnish complete details about NGOs involved in illegal activities and adjourned the next hearing of the case until July 22.

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