LAHORE: The Punjab Apex Committee which met here on Thursday decided to ban all means of funding to extremist organisations.
The first meeting of 2017 chaired by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif reviewed during four-hour marathon deliberations progress on the steps being taken to eliminate terrorism, extremism and sectarianism in the province under the National Action Plan (NAP).
The participants included National Security Adviser retired Gen Nasser Janjua, Lahore Corps Commander Lt-Gen Sadiq Ali, Punjab Rangers Director General Maj-Gen Umar Farooque Barki, GOC 10 Division Maj-Gen Sardar Tariq Aman, Chief Secretary Zahid Saeed, Inspector General of Police Mushtaq Sukhera, Home Secretary Azam Suleman, National Security Division Secretary Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui and senior military and civilian officers.
They agreed to launch an indiscriminate crackdown on the elements providing financial support to the terrorists and their facilitators and close down all sources of financial aid to them. They also decided to take more coordinated and effective steps for elimination of terrorism, extremism and sectarianism under NAP.
The meeting resolved to adopt a zero-tolerance policy against those involved in printing and distribution of literature based on religious hatred and ensuring implementation of the ban on provocative speeches.
Similarly, violation of the Amplifier Act would not be tolerated and those spreading terrorism, extremism, and sectarianism through social media would also be taken to task, the meeting resolved.
The participants also agreed on strict monitoring of entry and exit points of the province.
A handout said the meeting was satisfied with the steps so far taken under NAP and it was resolved that efforts would be continued to uproot terrorism, extremism and sectarianism from the province.
The meeting also lauded the success of operations carried out by the Punjab government and law-enforcement agencies against terrorists and their facilitators. It paid tributes to the sacrifices rendered by the officers and jawans of Pak Army, officers and officials of the Punjab police and other departments.
The chief minister said Punjab was the first province where ‘Safe City Project’ had become operational and geo-tagging of seminaries, mosques and other worship places had been completed.
Earlier, the corps commander met the chief minister and discussed the steps being taken in connection with NAP.
