ISLAMABAD: The newly appointed chairman of the National Counter-Terrorism Authority (Nacta), Hamid Ali Khan, assumed the charge of his office on Monday amid a controversy whether the organisation will work under direct watch of the prime minister or the interior ministry.

After assuming the charge, Mr Khan called on Interior Secretary Shahid Khan who assured him of support in counter-terrorism efforts during his three-year term, according to a spokesman for the ministry.

Mr Khan could not be contacted for comments despite efforts.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said a couple of months ago that Nacta would be revived soon and it would be controlled directly by his ministry, and not by the prime minister.

But the opposition decided to block the move as PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar said: “We will oppose the decision of the minister in parliament.”

Not only the PPP but other opposition parties have also decided to raise their voice against the move in parliament.

The Nacta bill was approved by the National Assembly during the tenure of the PPP-led government in 2013 but the authority is yet to become fully functional.

The opposition wants the authority to work directly under the prime minister, and not the interior ministry, because the Nacta Act says: “The authority shall be an independent body answerable directly to the prime minister”.

In a recent meeting, the Senate’s Standing Committee on Defence also supported the idea of Nacta working under the direct supervision of the prime minister.

Published in Dawn, November 11th , 2014

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.