ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Interior on Sunday issued data showing implementation status of the National Action Plan (NAP).

According to it, law enforcement agencies have registered 17,562 cases and nabbed 19,289 people to counter hate speech, extremist literature and misuse of loudspeaker as part of measures adopted under the NAP.

The agencies concerned also sealed 70 shops and confiscated 5,141 items.

The data revealed that of the total, 1,335 cases had been registered and 2,465 people arrested for hate speech and spreading extremist literature. Some 16,267 cases have been registered and 16,824 people arrested for violating the misuse of loudspeaker.

Authorities have also blocked 937 uniform resource locators (URLs) and 10 websites of banned organisations for abuse of internet and social media.

With regard to steps ensuring against re-emergence of banned organisations, the data showed that the number of such organisations was 64, three were under surveillance, 8,309 people were on the 4th Schedule ATA and the number of movement restrictions was 2,052.

Similarly, data was being collected by National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta) with regard to taking steps against religious persecution.

Moreover, the data highlighted the steps taken for registration and regulation of religious seminaries and revealed that the provincial governments had undertaken geo-mapping of religious seminaries, on the standard parameters, the progress of which included Punjab and Sindh 100 per cent, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 75pc, Balochistan 60pc and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) 85pc. The provincial governments had closed over 2,000 suspected religious seminaries, including two in Punjab, 2,311 in Sindh, 13 in KP and one in Balochistan.

The data said Karachi operation had achieved significant success by reducing the crime rate which registered 90pc decrease in terrorism cases, 91pc in target killings, 62pc in murders and 48pc in robberies. Around 33,378 weapons have been recovered during the ongoing operation.

With regard to dismantling communication network of terrorists, the data showed that 98.3 SIMs had been blocked while biometric verification system had been put in place for issuance of new SIMs.

According to the data, a Counter Terrorism Force has been established which has a strength of 500 personnel in Islamabad, 1,182 in Punjab, 728 in Sindh, 1,000 in Balochistan, 2,200 in KP, 168 in Gilgit and 260 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

The data showed that Nacta was also being further strengthened. The total number of convicted terrorists who have been executed under the ATA/PPC is 414. Eleven special trial courts have been notified and 190 cases have been transferred to them.

It was revealed that 70 incidents of sectarian terrorism were recorded in 2011, 185 in 2012, 127 in 2013, 176 in 2014, 79 in 2015 and 34 in 2016.

With regard to revamping the criminal justice system, the data showed that it pertained to the provincial governments, although Nacta was preparing a package of reforms which would be presented to the federal government and, if approved, would be circulated to the provinces for adoption.

Listing other steps about choking of finances of terrorists, the data revealed that total 681 hawala/hundi cases had been registered of which 201 were under investigation and 345 under trial while 102 accused had been convicted and 33 acquitted. The recovered amount was Rs886 million and 931 were arrested.

Moreover, the data showed that 283 anti-money laundering cases had been registered of which 136 were under investigation and 147 under trial. The number of arrests was 414.

Under the suspicious transaction reports, the data revealed that 148 were received from the Financial Monitoring Unit, of which 32 had been converted into cases, 14 closed and 102 were under inquiry. A counter terrorism finance unit is also being established in the provinces while a draft bill — Anti-Money Laundering Act — has been prepared.

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2017