Petition calling for deployment of Rangers in Punjab filed in LHC

LAHORE: In the wake of Lahore blast that left over 26 people dead and dozens others injured, a petition calling for enforcement of the National Action Plan (NAP) and deployment of paramilitary troops in Punjab province was filed in Lahore High Court on Tuesday, ARY News reported.

Judicial Activism Panel petitioned the high court, contending that the Punjab government has failed to implement the NAP in letter and spirit. As a result, incidents like the one that occurred yesterday took place, it added.

The petitioner said the civil and military leadership had unanimously devised the NAP to counter extremism and terrorism, but the Punjab government was not implementing it in violation of the Constitution.

It said Law Minister Rana Sanaullah and other ministers remained focused on the Panama Papers case while the people of the province were left at the mercy of terrorists.

The petitioner pleaded with the court to issue directives to the government to strictly implement the NAP and deploy paramilitary troops in the province so that lives and properties of people could be secured.

Following the Army Public School Peshawar massacre in which approximately 132 children and nine others were killed, the civil and military leadership had devised a counter-terrorism strategy in the shape of the National Action Plan (NAP) to deal with the menace of terrorism.

Establishing military courts for speedy prosecution of terror suspects, reforming the madressahs, censoring hate literature, banning organisations which incite sectarian violence were the key points of the NAP.