ISLAMABAD, Oct 12: President Gen Pervez Musharraf has ordered the national intelligence agencies to concentrate on terrorism and sectarianism-related activities instead of gathering “political intelligence”, Dawn learnt from authoritative sources.

The directives have been issued following preparation of a new plan of action for the intelligence agencies, which was approved at a high level meeting on law and order, which was presided over by General Pervez Musharraf.

According to documents, available with Dawn, the intelligence agencies have been asked to “reorientate their focus” towards criminal activities, sectarian violence and terrorism instead of pursuing “other activities like political intelligence gathering”.

Sectarian violence has been on the increase at an alarming pace in the country.

More than 150 people have been killed in sectarian-related terrorism since January this year. Last year, more than 120 people had been killed in the sectarian violence.

Now, the intelligence agencies would be geared up for gathering tactical and strategic information with complete analysis so that pre-emptive actions could be taken against the “terrorist organizations and individuals”.

The flow of information would be vertical as well as lateral so that there was prompt and timely coordination between various intelligence agencies and the law-enforcing agencies in the provinces.

According to the new arrangements, the interior ministry would coordinate at the federal level while sensitive security agencies would prepare analytical papers and feed the ministry of interior, as well the provinces.

The intelligence gathering system at the provincial level would also be improved with each province having its own action groups to meet the new challenges of terrorism and sectarianism. The system would be extended down to the district level.

According to related documents, the President was earlier informed that though improvement of law and order situation was one of the main points of the government’s agenda, the existing situation was far from satisfactory.

It was pointed out that the law of the country was openly being defied by the people involved in the sectarianism because of which the country was experiencing the violence and bomb blasts.

The meeting was informed that there was a sense of insecurity among the general public and the government was losing the confidence of the people and there was an urgent need to rid society of elements who were spreading violence.

To achieve these objectives, the president was asked to approve a restructuring plan for the intelligence agencies so that they could focus their energies on identifying unscrupulous elements in society.

The meeting was of the view that if the intelligence agencies were relieved of their “additional burden”, the situation could be improved to a great extent and the country could return to normality.