Govt to restrict terrorist outfits’ use of social media

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided to take comprehensive measure to curb the activities of banned terrorist outfits on social media.

The decision was taken during during the National Action Plan (NAP) coordination committee, presided over by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Tuesday.

During the meeting, it was decided that with the cooperation of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the social media accounts of banned terrorist outfits would be blocked, while the provinces would take steps under a comprehensive strategy to stop the usage of illegal SIMs.

The committee also summoned the next meeting with top officials of all relevant institutions, including PTA tasked to come up with an effective mechanism in this regard.

In order to tighten noose on terrorist outfits, the NAP coordination committee meeting decided to establish a National Fusion Cen­tre for effective coordination between the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) and the provinces.

The meeting was breifed that 206 terrorists have been killed in 7984 intelligence-based operations till October this year.

The interior minister announced that the needs of law enforcement agencies would be fulfilled on a priority basis, directing all agencies to submit a report on their requirements to the ministry within seven days. He said reforms were initiated in Nacta, with its original role being restored so that it could better fight terrorism.

He underscored that everyone has to work together to improve the law and order situation, adding that along with increasing capacity, the police of all provinces should be equipped with modern technology.

Federal Secretary Interior, National Coordinator NACTA, IGs of all provinces, IG Railways Police, Commandant Frontier Constabulary, IG Islamabad Police, and senior officials of the Ministry of Interior and law enforcement agencies also attended the meeting.