News
Friday, June 21, 2013
New national security policy soon: Nisar* Says policy will aim to improve coordination amongst civil, armed forces and intelligence agencies
ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said on Thursday that the new national security policy would be announced soon after reviewing the recommendations of all the stakeholders, including the civil armed forces and armed forces, with the basic objective to improve coordination amongst them as well as with the intelligence agencies.
While addressing a press conference here after a meeting of various stakeholders, Nisar said the civil armed forces will be directed to submit their recommendations on security issues within two days. He said interaction would be carried out with the armed forces, as the prime minister has formed a committee in this regard. “After consultation with all stakeholders, the new national security policy would be announced soon whose basic objective is to improve coordination among the security and the intelligence agencies,” he said.
The interior minister said there is lack of coordination among security agencies working in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Karachi. “The purpose of this policy would be to enhance coordination and give clear channel of command for quick response among the provincial and federal governments in case of any mishap,” he said. The interior minister said strict accountability system would be put in place to review the security failures. Regarding recent incidents of terrorism in Quetta, Nisar said that recommendations and report of the joint investigation team would be presented in parliament and would be shared with the nation.
The minister also announced immediate withdrawal of personnel of civil armed forces (Rangers and FC) deputed for security of various personalities, except the president, prime minister and chief justice. He said that a transparent procedure would be adopted for those who really need security and minimum provision would be made for them. He said that he had also directed withdrawal of 20 personnel deputed on his security and asked others to follow his instructions in this regard.
Nisar also announced that a task force will be constituted for coordination among security and intelligence agencies, while a separate task force will be formed to resolve the issue of missing persons. He also said that a ban would be imposed on issuance of arms licences, for both prohibited and non-prohibited arms. Briefing mediamen regarding various projects for the federal capital, he said it would be made a model district and city. The minister said the record as well as other functions of all police stations in Islamabad will be computerised and they would be supervised through a central command.
The First Information Reports (FIRs), he said, would be circulated to 14 various offices and a massive operation would be launched within next three days against non-registered vehicles, underage drivers as well as one-wheelers. During initial phase, lane discipline would be maintained on three main roads of Islamabad and it would be further implemented on other roads.
The interior minister also announced that a metro bus system would be introduced in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad and the project would be completed on priority. He said that Islamabad chief commissioner had been asked to coordinate with Rawalpindi Commissioner in this regard, and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has given formal approval of the project.
Nisar directed the officials of then Interior Ministry and its attached departments to not interact with foreign nationals or embassies without permission. A private TV channel reported that during a high-level meeting on law and order chaired by Interior Minister Nisar, the Sindh government was given one month to end target killings in the province. The meeting decided that if the Sindh government failed to make any headway, the issue would be taken up by the federal government. app/daily times monitor
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk