Quetta Attack inquiry commission recommends ban on activities of proscribed groups

ISLAMABAD: An inquiry commission in its report on the August 8 Quetta terrorist attack has called for imposing immediate ban on terrorist groups by enforcing the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) in letter and spirit.

Justice Qazi Faez Isa-led commission in its inquiry report criticized the role of the Ministry of Interior saying that the ministry is working without clear leadership and direction and was unclear over the anti-terrorism campaign.

The commission regretted that Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had on Oct 21 met Maulana Mohammad Ahmed Ludhianvi, the head of three banned organisations — Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan, Millat-i-Islamia and Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat — to listen to his demands and conceded to them as per the media reports.

The commission report recommends immediate ban on the groups who accept the responsibilities of terrorist acts demanding serious steps against them.

The commission in its report said that the media gave little attention to the victims of terrorism it seems more attention was given to the propaganda of the radicals.

The report said that the statements of the chief minister of Balochistan and other officials affected the repute of the government, while the ministry of religious affairs and inter-faith harmony failed to perform its responsibility.

The report questions public meetings and processions being organized by the banned groups and demanded immediate ban on their activities. Terrorist organisations must not be permitted to hold meetings and people must be informed about the reasons for banning such organisations, said the report.

The commission was formed by the Supreme Court on Oct 6 to investigate the August 8 suicide attack on Quetta’s Civil Hospital in which at least 74 people, mostly lawyers, had lost their lives.