PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa technical committee on law and order has directed the provincial police to crack down on the people spreading religious hatred through written material, speeches or wall chalking.

The directions were issued during a meeting chaired by provincial information minister Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani here on Wednesday.

In a statement issued by the home and tribal affairs department here on Thursday, the technical committee directed all administrative and police officers of the districts, especially those of Peshawar, Kohat, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan and Malakand, to conduct search operations against terrorists and keep a close watch on the movement of suspicious people.

Also read: Police plan action against illegal residents, hate mongers

It said the police should also take effective steps to contain incidents of extortion, kidnapping for ransom and targeted killing.

Govt also asks police to check incidents of extortion, kidnapping, targeted killing

The committee ordered a ban on the movement of Afghan prayer leaders and criminals in their respective areas.

Minister Ghani told participants that strict security measures were being taken in the province in line with the National Action Plan to Counter Terrorism and Extremism.

He said the government would set up forensic laboratories in Peshawar and Swat by June 2015.

The minister said special training progamme would be organised to build the capacity of the police and traffic police in light of the current delicate security situation.

He said the training programmes would help the policemen efficiently handle explosives and the traffic cops effectively manage traffic system.

The minister said seven model police stations and one police station for reserve police would be established in different regions of the province to meet the growing local security needs.

Among those in attendance were home secretary Akhtar Ali Shah, additional inspector general of police (headquarters) Mohammad Asif, additional home secretary Abdul Kamal, Frontier Reserve Police commandant Alam Shinwari, DIG (counter-terrorism) Salahuddin, DIG (headquarters) Mubarakzeb Khan and officers of relevant departments.

Meanwhile, the Lower Kohistan administration on Thursday banned the assembly of more than four people at a place in the district.

Also, a ban was slapped on photography within 500 meters of the schools, which have enrolled more than 500 students.

A statement issued by the home and tribal affairs department here on Thursday the ban imposed under Section 144 CrPC would come into force with immediate effect and remain valid for 30 days.

Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2015

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