NACTA in close contact with intelligence agencies

Formation of Joint Intelligence Directorate

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Interior was informed on Monday that National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) is in close coordination with Intelligence Agencies (IAs) to establish a Joint Intelligence Directorate (JID) to counter terrorism and related activities.

The JID will serve as a coordination platform for information exchange with a view to achieve common objective of countering terrorism and allied activities in the country, Coordinator NACTA Ahsan Ghani informed the committee which was chaired by Senator Rehman Malik.

Ahsan Ghani said people were being hired for the JID which will consist of desks where officers of different departments and IAs will be deployed.

The meeting discussed in detail the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) (Amendment) Bill 2016. The bill provided the structure of proposed National Authority which would be governed by a Board of Governors with the prime minister acting its Chairman and the rest of the members comprising federal and provincial ministers and chiefs of intelligence and law enforcement agencies.

It was informed that according to existing provision it should meet whenever it is necessary for it and at least once a year. However the existing provision that the Board of Governors must meet every quarter. Besides the Executive Committee is the implementing body of the NACTA. However there is no such provision and mechanism for the Executive Committee meeting is given at regular intervals of time.

Therefore this act stressed that there should be mechanism for meeting of the Executive Committee at regular Intervals.The amendments introduced included amendment of section 6 Act XIX of 2013 of National Counter Terrorism Authority Act 2013 and amendment of section 8 Act XIX of 2013 of National Counter Terrorism Authority Act 2013. Through clause (2) the word each quarter of existing in section 6 in sub section (4) shall be omitted and through clause(3) following sub section (7) shall be added in the section 8 as The Executive Committee may meet as and when required but it shall meet at least once in each quarter of a year.

Additional Secretary informed the Committee that NACTA has no objection to the said amendments.The agenda items included discussion on Bill titled The Prohibition of Corporal Punishment Bill 2016 The Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government (Amendment) Bill 2016 and Brutal Murder of Sardar Suran Singh Special Assistant to Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Minorities Affairs. Rehman Malik appreciated Pakistan Army for conducting operations to curb terrorism.

He also emphasized to redefine definition of terrorism. Condemning the murder of Suran Singh he said those involved in the crime should be taken to task. He directed that Provincial Secretary Home Affairs and Inspector General of Police KPK should be asked to attend the next meeting.