Nat Action Plan of Pakistan

The National Action Plan, a comprehensive roadmap devised to tackle the hydra of terrorism and extremism in Pakistan, was launched in 2015 in the aftermath of the grisly incident of Army Public School (APS) Peshawar. Army Public School attack on 16th of December 2014, a national consensus was evolved to come down hard on the terrorists through a concerted national effort. Whereas the National Internal Security Policy 2014 pointed out the broad policy guidelines and long-drawn reforms in several state institutions, a need to felt to chalk out an Action Plan with specific, mostly quantifiable and ultimately time-bound agenda to curb the scourge of terrorism which had by now started massacring even innocent school-age children. The main aim of NAP was to control and eliminate the hydra of terrorism and extremism at a time when successful counter insurgency operations had started achieving successes in the tribal areas of Pakistan. (Safee, 2015) 

After deep and prolonged deliberations, all stakeholders including the civil and military leadership agreed on the 20-point NAP. It was a remarkable step in the right direction as we came out of the state of denial, though belatedly, and adopted a clear direction to tread the path in unison to tackle terrorism with might and vigor. All quarters welcomed it and people looked at it with high hopes and expectations. And these 20 Points National Action Plan (NAP) for countering terrorism and extremism was chalked out by NACTA/ Ministry of Interior in consultation with the stakeholders and approved on 24th of December, 2014 by the Parliament. After the National Internal Security Policy 2014, it was the 2nd consensual policy document approved by the Government. The National Action Plan, spelled out the specifics for the counterterrorism drive in the country. (Sahil, 2018) 

The 20 agenda items of National Action Plan 2014 are as followed:  

1) Implementation of death sentence of those convicted in cases of terrorism. 2) Special trial courts under the supervision of Army. The duration of these courts would be two years. 3) Militant outfits and armed gangs will not be allowed to operate in the country. 4) NACTA, the anti-terrorism institution will be strengthened. 5) Strict action against the literature, newspapers and magazines promoting hatred, extremism, sectarianism and intolerance. 6) Choking financing for terrorist and terrorist organizations. 7) Ensuring against re-emergence of proscribed organizations. 8) Establishing and deploying a dedicated counter-terrorism force. 9) Taking effective steps against religious persecution. 10) Registration and regulation of religious seminaries. 11) Ban on glorification of terrorists and terrorist organizations through print and electronic media. 12) Administrative and development reforms in FATA with immediate focus on repatriation of IDPs. 13) Communication network of terrorists will be dismantled completely. 14) Measures against abuse of internet and social media for terrorism. 15) Zero tolerance for militancy in Punjab. 16) Ongoing operation in Karachi will be taken to its logical end. 17) Baluchistan government to be fully empowered for political reconciliation with complete ownership by all stakeholders. 18) Dealing firmly with sectarian terrorists. 19) Formulation of a comprehensive policy to deal with the issue of Afghan refugees, beginning with registration of all refugees. 20) Revamping and reforming the criminal justice system. (Yusuf, 2014) 

Terrorism in Pakistan continued unhindered from the last one and a half decade but APS attack was an alarming message. In concern with APS attack PM Nawaz Sharif held a conference called ALL PARTY CONFERENCE on 24th of December ,2014 which includes all political parties and stakeholders in order to generate consensus to fight terrorism and in result of this National Action Plan was formed.

It was a remarkable positive step, as from this step Pakistan came out of the denial state. After deep and prolonged deliberations, all stakeholders including the civil and military leadership agreed on the 20-point NAP.

Implementation by government:

NAP was launched sans strategy to implement and monitor it. Sixteen committee were formed for implementation of NAP. The Government claimed successful execution while the army, Judiciary system, media and civil society shared disappointment about it.

The implementation of NAB started and kept on improving by the addition of things in it.

·      In January 2015, maximum committees were formed to enhance the implementation of the National Action Plan i.e., 15 committees and sub-committees were set up.

·      The execution of accused terrorist was implemented on march 2015 and 128 prisoners were executed.

·      On 8 August 2016, after the bomb in Quetta Hospital.

Another leadership committee was set up which was an administrative agency which will also have a supervisory role in the implementation of the NAP. This committee was Chaired by Lt. General, National Security Advisor (Retired) Nasser Khan Janjua. He also formed regional committees in all four provinces, Azad Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan for monitoring the implementation of NAP.

·      Aerial Strikes and ground actions against terrorist were made more effective as the result on 24 December 2014 aerial strikes in Datta Khel killed 23 terrorists. Zarb-e-Azb operation’s objectives were also updated.

·      Special military courts were formed for fast checking of terrorists and as a result 50 cases were reported by March 2015.

·      Pakistan Ordinance Factory was provided by additional funds to improve their arms.

·      NAP made strict strategy in dealing with the matter of sectarian violence, religious intolerance and extremism. As a result, 1373 cases were registered after 2014 regarding hate speech and publication of literature inciting religious sentiments.

The political leaders will be needed for the enactment of the plan is weak as there has not been a single meeting of board of directors since the inception of NACTA (National Counter Terrorism Authority). Also, it failed to establish a joint intelligence directorate (JID).

Controversial steps: The re-enactment of death penalty arises as a huge controversy as there is a much opposition especially by international powers. There is no mechanism  to impose death penalty specifically to chosen people. Also, data shows that almost 98% of the death penalty was not related to terrorist convictions at all.

Issues with the religious body: The crackdown on the religious institutions holds the potential to make the religious sections of the society angry due to the segregation, checks and balances and extensive watch placed on them.

This research study also emphases on the role of media in disasters and fight situation. The Study aims to discover the reporting of newspapers, The Jang (leading Urdu Newspaper) and The Dawn on National Action Plan (NAP) against terrorism. In other words, the study will focus to ration the depiction of National Action Plan in both newspapers. The two newspapers Daily Dawn and Daily Jang were selected for the study as they both have hefty rotations. The time retro of the study was 2 months during Dec 16,2014 to Feb 16, 2015. The study was based on content investigation of Front-Page news landings of both newspapers about National Action Plan.

Media play energetic role in this up-to-date epoch. Media became reflect of the society and elementary role of media is public education. Media play diverse roles in conflict situation all over the creation. The existing study recognizes that how leading Pakistani newspapers represented the national action plan. National Action Plan is country action plan to counter-terrorism. The Study is providing attention on the role of media in crises and conflict condition. This study is providing the fleeting evidence about application of national action plan and role of Pakistani newspapers to presented national action plan.

The militarization of counter-terrorism policy puts at risk Pakistan’s evolution toward greater civilian rule, which is itself a necessary but not sufficient condition to stabilize the democratic transition. While the report addresses the coercive side of a counter-terrorism policy and how to make it more efficient, without structural and governance reform, the root causes of terrorism and extremism will remain unaddressed, and violent jihadis will continue to exploit the absence of rule of law. The military’s continual undermining of civilian authority since democracy’s restoration in 2008 will remain a major challenge to meaningful and sustained reform. Yet, the political leadership also bears responsibility for failing to push back and, as a result, undermining its credibility and authority.

After inaugurating the NAP on 24 December, the Sharif government implemented two major demands of the military without delay: lifting the predecessor government’s 2008 moratorium on the death penalty; and passing on 6 January 2015 the 21st constitutional amendment, empowering special military courts to try all terrorism suspects, including civilians. Yet, the vast majority of the 176 executions since late December have been for crimes unrelated to terrorism, and the military courts weaken constitutional protections and due process. Other newly-created parallel structures, including provincial “apex committees”, enable the military to bypass representative institutions and play a more direct role in governance. Armed with new legal tools, the military has further marginalized civilian institutions in devising and implementing counter-terrorism policy.

An empowered, resourced police force remains the most credible tool for enforcing a sustained and successful counter-terrorism strategy. The current emphasis on revenge and retribution and the emasculation of fundamental rights and rule of law are undermining citizen confidence in the state to deliver justice, a flawed approach that also fuels grievances that benefit the violent extremists the NAP is aimed at combatting.

Constitution (21 Amendment) Act 2015: It was approved by national assembly and senate on January 06, 2015 and the presidential consent was received on January 07, 2015.

The 21 Amendment Act was a substance of solemn discussion for Islamic  parties in Pakistan.

On January 5, 2015 the Parliament of Pakistan in a joint sitting of both the Households (Senate and National Assembly) Approved 21 amendments to the Constitution of Pakistan, establish military tribunals to try Islamist terrorists. Amendment 21 was the result of the Army Public School occurrence of December 16, 2014 in Peshawar where Islamic terrorism belongs to the most Tehreek –e- Taliban Pakistan. The group killed 145 people in cold blood (132 of them school children). It seems that the terrorist attack is now considered to be Pakistan's 9/11, which has changed the sequence of act of rule makers, or at least those allied with the TTP and related with them.

It was a new bill to alter the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Considering that there are exceptional conditions and situations that require special measures for the instant investigation of certain terrorism-related crimes, war or rebellion against Pakistan and prevention of acts endangering Pakistan's security by terrorist groups in the name of this religion or through members of a sect and armed groups, wings and militants and there is a serious and  unprecedented threat to the integrity of Pakistan and to the goals set out in the presentation of the Constitution by the draftsmen; the constitution, the use of religion or sect by terrorist groups to carry out arms and insurgency, or foreign and locally funded anti-state elements.

It is wanted for terrorist groups in which terrorists are fighting in the name of a religion or sect, Arrest or arrest in a fight with the armed forces or be tried by the courts established in Article 2 of the above law.

1)   One Short title and start:

a)    This law can be called the Constitution Act of 2015 (21st Amendment).

b)   It will be obligatory immediately.

c)    The provisions of this Amendment Act will be effective for two years from the date of its commencement and it will stop being part of the constitution and will be repealed at the end of the said period.

2)   Modification of article 175 of the Constitution:

In the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, it is referred to as the Constitution in Article 175 (3), for the end point, one colon will be replaced and then the next condition will be inserted, namely; Provided that the provisions of this article shall not apply to the trial of individuals on the basis of any of the above laws. Serial Nos. 6, 7, 8 and 9 of Part III or Part I of Appendix I, the one who claims, or is known, is from any terrorist group or organization whose name is used in the name of a religion or sect. Explanation; In this case, the expression "sect" means a sect of religion and does not include any political or religious party regulated by the 2002 Order of Political Parties. "

3)   Amendment to the First Affiliation of the Constitution:

In the Constitution, in the first appendix, in sub-section III of Part I, after entry 5, the following new entries will be added, namely:

6.    Pakistan Army Action 1952 (XXXXIX of 1952)

7.    Pakistan Air Force Action 1953 (VI of 1953).

8.    The Pakistan Navy Decree, 1961 (XXXV of 1961).

The Pakistan Navy Decree, 1961 (XXXV of 1961

The civilian government is an entirely different story. Whether it is the interior ministry, or the stillborn and flailing NACTA, or the law enforcement agencies, the implementation of NAP and its various objectives leaves a lot to be desired. There seems to be a particular bottleneck whenever the religious right is involved (proscriptions, seminaries, hate speech, etc.) There also seems to be a distinct lack of political will for reform of the criminal justice system, or the inept police forces.

More than ever, NAP feels more like a political tool than a unified, unifying plan. What started off as an integrated means to eradicate extremism in the country is now at best a sidelined instrument, with every state organ clamoring to claim the smallest of the limited victories, and scrambling to shift the blame for its many, many failures. Ultimately, Pakistan has grown surgically adept at killing terrorists, but unable (or unwilling) to kill the ideas that fuel them.