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  • Oct 21st, 2013
  • Comments Off on Action against terrorists: Protection of Pakistan Ordinance promulgated
President Mamnoon Hussain has reportedly signed 'Protection of Pakistan Ordinance'(PPO) designed to establish the writ of the state by taking strict action against those involved in terrorism. The Ordinance has been approved by the President on Sunday on the advice of the Prime Minister and will be enforced with immediate effect. It states that people involved in terrorism and creating terror would be considered enemy of the state.

Private media reported that the law would ensure speedy action against the people involved in anti-state activities as per the law. Under the promulgated law, joint teams of security and law enforcement agencies would be constituted to investigate terrorism and criminal cases. Separate police stations would be established to register and investigate criminal cases. The federal prospectors and courts would be established to provide speedy justice and award strict punishments to criminals involved in heinous crimes.

APP adds: A statement issued here on Sunday provided specific background and justification for the legislation in the ambit of Constitution, especially the law and order situation by saying that the PML-N government, its allies and all democratic forces were cognisant of the historical responsibility to pull out the state and people out of the prevailing gloom and despair.

"To restore sense of security, through resorting to all legal instruments, institutions and deployment of resources, has been the top priority of national leadership in all branches, be that elected or permanent, is more than determined to move forward to minimise losses, explore productive potential of the nation by creating enabling environment for revival of faith in our ability to rise above our transient differences to restore our investment climate," the statement said.

It said the extraordinary disposition dictates unusual dispensation. New legislative initiatives have been proposed in line with international best practices, to declare that: "The Constitution and rule of law shall be the overarching umbrella. Security of life, property and dignified living of our own people shall be the prime goal for all functionaries of the state.

All civil and military law enforcement agencies, including CAF and their personnel where invited shall be given fullest protection of law to discharge their mission of restoration of peace in enabling environment within the parameters of Part V of the Constitution.

Every possible state instrument and resource will be deployed to defeat and frustrate all or any nefarious attempt to create disorder in our peaceful life and living.

Writ of the state shall be restored with full might of the law; those to pursue fruit of terror and fear, regardless of nationality, colour, creed or religion shall be treated as enemy aliens and dealt with strictly without any compunction.

The cancer of syndicated crime in all its forms and manifestations shall be responded by proportionate use of state force under the law.

Joint investigation teams shall be constituted to conduct investigations by security agencies and police in all heinous crimes committed in areas where CAF are invited to aid civil power.

Separate police stations will be designated for professional and expeditious investigations of specified crime, prosecuted through federal prosecutors.

Special Federal Courts shall be designated to render inexpensive justice with promptitude as mandated by Article 37. Those involved in syndicated crime shall be relocated in rest of the country for transparency and fair trial under an environ from hostage culture.

Enhanced punishments are being provided for specified crime. Judicious but effective use of preventive detentions shall be made in cases involving serious crime by clever gangs and mafias. The millions of non-Pakistanis on our soil for any reason, including distressful conditions in their parent country, especially those since 1979, shall not be allowed to abuse the temporary liberty to commit depredation.

Their local collaborators, including handlers and facilitators, landlords providing unreported accommodation and protection shall not be spared from the reach of iron hands of law. Special jails shall be designated to detain hardened criminals. Another significant feature of the Ordinance is that most offences included in the Schedule are already included in the offences specified and defined in extent Pakistan Code and Provincial Codes, eg. Offences against the `State' as defined in Article 7 of the 1973 Constitution punishable under Chapters VI, VII, VIII and IX of The Pakistan Penal Code 1860, Pakistan Arms Act, or Foreigners Act 1946 etc; however minimum quantum of punishments is now re-determined at ten years."

It further elaborates that Pakistan and its people have been exposed to undeclared and thankless wars that proliferated from their neighbourhood since 1979. The elements hostile to our existence in collaboration with unscrupulous locals have since claimed 40,000 lives of old and young, of all ages and religious denominations in the second campaign that began in 2001; many more were injured, disabled or uprooted.

Over three-decade long presence of many million aliens on its soil generated its own social complexities.

The people of Pakistan and its valiant forces have rendered unprecedented sacrifices: Over 4,000 soldiers and officers lost their lives to ensure that world at large remains at peace during last 11 years alone.

As a direct consequence, the economy and its production systems suffered enormously, eg; A colossal damage of over US $100 billion was inflicted to Pakistan's social and physical infrastructure.

As unproductive expenses multiply, for bare minimum subsistence and sustenance, additional loans of over US $50 billion were added during the period besides US $8 billion/annum for debt servicing. Increasing reliance on imports have further squeezed and strained public books and private pockets.

Non-availability of adequate employment opportunities encourages resort to easy coping mechanisms, unearned easy money via crime that pays instantly.

The twin issues of unemployment and rising population are compounded by individual and syndicated crime extensively spreading in settled urban areas exposed to depredation or "Kharaba."

Unfortunately, no serious attempt was made partly due to paucity of resources; lack of vision and political will, sense of insecurity & mistrust in the people's wisdom took its own claim at the cost of the nation suffering unprecedented inequality of income and opportunities."

Giving another justification, it said as state organs and judiciary faced legitimacy issues resurrected during most part of last 36 years, phased democratic transition in post-2009 era posed adjustment issues in the wake of eroded capacity of the executive branch as well."

Copyright Business Recorder, 2013


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