The strengthening and activation of National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) has become a far cry, as not only officials are showing reluctance to join the authority for inadequate monetary package and incentives but the government has not yet provided permanent accommodation for the office for the authority.
The NACTA office has been set up in the premises of National Police Bureau (NBP) on temporary basis, which is insufficient even to house the existing employees of the authority, which is badly affecting its routine work, Lieutenant Cdr Ihsan Ghani (Retd), National Coordinator NACTA, told senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control on Thursday. The meeting was presided over by Senator Rehman Malik.
Ghani further said that due to inadequate monetary package and incentives as well as lack of accommodation for outstation officers, officials were not ready to join the NACTA. He further told the committee that establishment division, federal and provincial governments, were yet to spare requisitioned officers for NACTA. Ghani told the committee that the sanctioned strength of the authority was 831 and out of these, 413 will be appointed in Joint Intelligence Directorate (JID) of the authority, 398 in NACTA and 30 at department cell. Recruitment against 155 posts has so far been made while 686 vacancies in the authority were yet to be filled, he said.
He said that risk allowance equal to 100 percent of the running basic salary (RBS) was allowed by the Prime Minister for NACTA, which had been reduced by the finance division to 55 percent of RBS by restrictions and cessations. "I have no-incentive package, accommodation and even proper office to attract officials of DIG ranks from different districts as they are enjoining heavy perks and privileges at different districts," he added.
He also said that the research and development fund envisaged under section 14 of the Act had not yet been established. The main objective of the fund was to carry out research on topics relevant to terrorism and extremism and appoint committee of experts from government and non-government organisations for deliberation in areas related to the mandate and function of the authority, he said.
He said that the main function of NACTA includes receiving and collection of data or information or intelligence and its dissemination and coordination between all relevant stakeholders to formulate threat assessments with periodical review to be presented to the federal government for making adequate and timely effort to counter terrorism and extremism. "The authority is also responsible to prepare comprehensive national counter terrorism and extremism strategies and review them on periodical basis," he added.
Ghani said that the additional responsibilities of NACTA include security of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)-establishments of Special Security Division (SSD), implementation of NAP, establishing toll free helpline for countering terrorism (CT 1717), foreigners' security and repatriation of foreign nationals.
He said that Rs 1.06 billion budget had been allocated for NACTA for current fiscal year against the total demand of Rs 2.1 billion. "Officers/staff has been requisitioned for the authority and the establishment division has approved the merger of NCMC and NACTA," he said.
When Senator Mukhtiar Ahmed Dhamrah criticized the government for allocating Rs 1.06 billion against Rs 2.1 billion demand, NC NACTA said that at present the allocated budget was sufficient. State Minister for Interior Muhammad Baligh-Ur-Rehman told the committee that the total budget of NACTA was Rs 120 million in the previous year while the present government had doubled it.
Finance Secretary Dr Waqar Masood told the committee that the allocation of Rs 1.06 billion for NACTA had been made with the consultation of Secretary Ministry of Interior. About reduction in risk allowance up to 55 percent of RBS, he said that it was difficult for the government to give special package to an institution.
NC NACTA further said that work had been initiated on the establishment of JID and significant progress had been made regarding seminaries' reforms. He said that National narratives for countering terrorism and extremism has been drafted and would be finalized soon, he said. He said that effective steps had been taken against proscribed organisations and schedule-IV list had also been revisited. "The authority has also taken steps for countering terrorism's financing including establishment of Joint Task Force and setting up of Countering Terrorism Financing Units (CTFUs) at provincial level," he said.
Ghani said that steps had also been taken for segregating sectarian terrorism from terrorism. "NACTA has enhanced cooperation with foreign partners including UK, US, EU, Japan and Iran as well as coordination with provincial Counter Terrorism Departments (CTDs) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has been further strengthened," he informed.
He said that the first ever meeting of NACTA's Board of Governor (BoG) would be convened shortly. "The authority will organize National Internal Security (NIS) conference in the near future to assess progress on NAP," he said. The NC NACTA requested the committee to recommend the approval of proposed pay packages and incentives as well as direct establishment division, federal and provincial government to provide requisitioned officers on immediate basis to the authority.
He also demanded of the committee to direct Ministry of Housing and works to hand over two floors of the newly-built Pak-Secretariat Block to house the authority or ask Capital Development Authority (CDA) to provide adequate land for construction of residential accommodation.
Rehman Malik said that following the approval of NAP the whole nation had pinned their hope on NACTA, but so far no significant progress had been made regarding the activation and strengthening of NACTA. Senator Shahi Syed said that the revival and strengthening of the authority was not possible as despite the passage of over one year after approval of NAP, government had failed to provide permanent office space for NACTA and the required staff had not been appointed in the authority.
Chaudhry Tanvir Khan said that government needed to provide all requirements including funds, accommodation and research and development fund. Malik directed NACTA chief to inform the committee during the next meeting that how offices of banned outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad were running in the country and who was responsible for this. "We support the Prime Minister's efforts to improve relation with India but an FIR should be registered regarding 651 martyr of Samjhauta Express," he said.
Senator Shahi Syed broke into tears when Commandant Frontier Constabulary (FC) Liaqat Ali Khan told the committee about meager salaries, inadequate equipment, improper uniform and screened a video showing the pathetic conditions of accommodation and offices of the force. "Are Pashtoons not Pakistanis and not patriot?.The video reflects that no one else but government itself is behind the creation of Taliban," he deplored.
Senator Shahi Syed and Mukhtiar Ahmed Damrah staged token walk from the meeting against the non-provision of proper fund, equipments, accommodation and other facilities to FC. Commandant FC further told the committee that FC was the most neglected force of the country, despite playing active role in the fight against terrorism. "The total SMGs available with FC is 11400 against total requirement of 25540 SMGs, he said. He said that total number of available Charpoys with force was 8440 against the total requirement of 25540. "Despite being a frontline force, FC has not been provided Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS), walkthrough gates, APCs, shoes and helmet," he revealed.
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