News
Friday, October 15, 2010
Intelligence agencies monitoring 6,000 suspected persons* National Crisis Management Cell chief tells NA body govt has banned 27 outfits for involvement in terrorist activities
By Zeeshan Javaid
ISLAMABAD: The activities of more than 6,000 people linked to banned sectarian and religious organisations are being strictly monitored by intelligence wings and intelligence agencies have been collecting details on banned organisations, which had been working with other names, National Crisis Management Cell (NCMC) Chairman Brig Javed Lodhi said on Thursday.
He made these comments while briefing the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Human Rights, which met at the Parliament House.
The government has banned 27 outfits for involvement in terrorist activities in the country, and has placed them on Fourth Schedule, while their activities were being strictly checked, he added. Lodhi said the country’s security institutions were fully committed to establishing peace and to countering terrorism in the country, and, therefore, all foreign students in madrasas were being registered after security clearance by the Interior Department.
The committee directed that in order to bring harmony and restore peace among different communities, no criminal should be spared punishment On the Gojra incident, the committee advised the Ministry of Interior and Gojra district administration to ascertain any connections of the criminals with any agency, party or group.
The committee also took up Shazia rape case in Faisalabad, and the killing of nine people in police station Chatyana. With regard to Gojra incident and rape of Shazia, the committee decided that Ministry of Human Rights secretary will discuss the issue with the Lahore High Court chief justice to expedite the cases.
The committee enquired as the Anti Terrorism Court (ATC) Ordinance 1997 had lapsed what steps had the Ministry of Interior taken to restore it. The committee stated that it desired to create an environment for the application of universal principles of equality and social justice, as well as constitutional and international rights, and uplift of the workers and the labour force of Pakistan.
The NA panel expressed displeasure that the working conditions of the labourers had not been satisfactory and that was deplorable.
The provincial labour departments represent only the employers and not the workers. The labour departments had been involved in corruption. Long working hours and poor working conditions are the normal features of a significant number of work places. A number of them also carry economic, social and health hazards.
The committee noted that 36 conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) had been recognised by Pakistan, and these conventions should be brought in line with the national laws, by considering, ethical, economic, social, cultural and ethnic values of Pakistan. As labour laws were mainly functions of the provincial government, they should be implemented in letter and spirit. The committee had a detailed discussion on child labour and urged that remedial measures be taken against it.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk