The law enforcement agencies have arrested 16,022 persons on charges of involvement in terrorist activities, of which 2525 have been convicted and 376 awarded death penalty from 2013 to 2017 across the country. According to official document of National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) submitted to Senate Standing Committee on Interior, out of 16022 persons arrested on charges of involvement in terrorist activities, 10993 persons arrested in Punjab, 2728 in Sindh, 1967 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 147 in Balochistan, 126 in Gilgit Baltistan and 61 in federal capital during the last five years.
The meeting, presided over by Senator Rehman Malik, was informed that out of 2525 convicted persons during last five years, 1970 persons have bee convicted in Punjab, 255 in Sindh, 234 in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa, 54 in Balochistan, 10 in Gilgit Baltistan and two in federal capital.
The NACTA provided the data in response to a question raised by Senator Usman Khan Kakar, revealed that out of 376 convicted persons who have been awarded death penalty, 330 belong to Punjab, 19 Sindh, 15 Balochistan, seven Kyber Pakhtunkhawa and five Gilgit Baltistan. Malik directed the ministry of interior to again confirm the figures and apprise the committee with fresh figures and also tell the committee about the persons belonging to erstwhile tribal districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa who have so far been arrested and convicted.
He also questioned the ministry of interior that how many political workers being arrested with terrorism charges and how many have been convicted and how many were interrogated.
Senator Kakar said that the concerned departments should also inform the parliament about the exact number of civilians and personnel of law enforcement agencies martyred during the last five years. The committee also recommended that power to include and strike off name from Exit Control List (ECL) should be given back to secretary ministry for interior. Due to grant of same power to the federal capital many cases of removal from the list have been delayed, Malik said.
Senator Muhammad Javed Abbasi said that amendment in ECL policy is mandatory as a large of number of people facing problemms due to its constant misuse The committee expressed concern over the statement of state minister of interior Shehryar Afridi that 75 percent female students and 45 male students take crystal meth-also called crystal methamphetamine, a strong and highly addictive drug that affects the central nervous system - in capital.
Malik said that figures are highly disturbing and the government has to take serious action. He asked the ministry of interior to apprise the committee on the subject in next meeting as the news has spread uncertainty among the parents of students. He has asked the ministry to brief the committee about the action it has taken after knowing such huge figures of drug addicts in educational institutions.
The meeting approved 'The Day Care Centers Bill, 2018' moved by Senator Quratul Ain Marri with some amendments in the penalties, punishment and amount of fine. The committee offered Fateha for the departed soul of Senator Azam Khan Musakhel and 14 innocent Kashmiris who were martyred in Pulwama district of India Occupied Kashmir (IOK).
The Senate body strongly condemned the 'state-sponsored terrorist act' by Indian Security Forces in Pulwama district of India Occupied Kashmir (IOK) wherein 14 innocent Kashmiris were martyred and 200 others were injured. The chairman moved a resolution which was unanimously passed by the committee.