ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to tighten the noose around members of the banned organisations, under-observation suspects and human traffickers by cancelling their passports and blocking their national identity cards.

The decision was taken at a meeting on Monday. It was chaired by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.

Those falling under the net would be denied facilities such as permission to open and operate bank accounts and obtain mobile phone SIMs and driving licences.

“While every effort would continue towards safeguarding the rights of the citizens, we will not falter in fulfilling our commitment towards ensuring security of the motherland and to check the elements bringing bad name to the country in one way or the other,” the interior minister said.

He said that contrary to the propaganda of “detractors and panic peddlers”, the law and order situation had significantly improved as a result of tireless efforts of law enforcement agencies. “We, however, need to consolidate and build on these gains and to redouble our efforts for further improving the law and order situation,” he added.

During the meeting, a host of issues were discussed, including various measures being taken against the members of proscribed organisations, human traffickers and proclaimed offenders, the progress made so far by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in mega corruption cases, various measures being taken to purge FIA from corrupt elements, institutionalisation of system of rewards in various departments of the interior ministry, capacity building of FIA and police and efforts being made by the Islamabad administration and police towards improving law and order and making the federal capital a crime-free zone.

Security of media houses, schools, commercial centres and steps taken for community policing also came under discussion.

The meeting decided to cancel licences of all those security companies which will not provide their particulars to the administration.

FIA officials informed the meeting that in the ongoing campaign against human traffickers, 1,011 people have been taken into custody — 290 proclaimed offenders, 17 most wanted traffickers, 84 court absconders and 620 general arrests.

The meeting was told that the Economic Crime Wing of FIA recovered Rs2.4 billion during 2014-15. The recoveries during 2011-12 were Rs706 million. The Anti-Corruption Wing recovered Rs14.8 billion during 2014-15 and Rs7.1 billion during 2011-12.

About fines imposed by courts in anti-human trafficking cases, the meeting was informed that an amount of Rs165.05 million was imposed in various cases during 2014-15.

Senior police officials briefed the meeting on various measures taken for ensuring security of schools and media houses in the federal capital. The interior minister reviewed various arrangements put in place to meet any emergent law and order situation and to effectively intercept criminals.

Briefing the meeting on fresh initiatives being taken by the Capital Police, its The inspector general said that IT-based new initiatives would enable police and citizens to maintain effective liaison and citizens would be able to provide their feedback about the performance of police.

He said in line with the directives of the interior minister new recruits in police would be trained by army personnel while refresher courses of police officials by lawyers were also being arranged to strengthen the procedure of prosecution.

The minister directed the inspector general to carry out performance audit of various police stations so that those officials who were putting in extra effort could be identified and their hard work could be duly acknowledged and appreciated.

Progress on safe city project also came under discussion. The minister was informed that safe city project, presently in its test phase, was greatly helping the Capital Police in cubing and controlling crime rate and had been instrumental in tracing out various criminal cases.

The deputy commissioner of Islamabad briefed the meeting on the progress in campaigns against agent mafia outside government offices and elements involved in adulteration and sale of substandard food. He talked about the progress in the audit of private security agencies and the notices issued to them advising them to provide their particular and other details to the administration.

The minister directed the Islamabad administration to continue its efforts against adulteration indiscriminately and to ensure its sustainability. He also directed that the media should be continuously kept on board so as to raise maximum awareness among the public.

Published in Dawn, March 1st, 2016