61 banned outfits still operating, challenging writ of state

As many as 61 banned outfits are working in different parts of the country with new names; though they all claim to be peaceful and boast themselves as charitable organisations. Official documents available with Business Recorder reveal that almost all the banned outfits are operating freely and working under new names. The United Nations has also slapped sanctions on three of such outfits that include Jamat-ud-Dawa, Al-Akbar and Al-Rashid trusts.
An official of Interior Ministry said that a counter-terrorism policy cannot achieve its desired results until heads of all these outfits were sent behind the bars and their activities were curbed. "When 61 proscribed outfits are working across Pakistan freely, how a counter-terrorism policy can be fruitful," he questioned. He suggested the government to take stern action to curb funding of these organisations by ensuring implementation of the relevant laws.
"We don't need any new law to stop funding to terror outfits. Laws are already there; we just need strict implementation," he said. The government should come up with a clear stance on terrorism and proscribed outfits to shape the much-needed powerful narrative against them. "We still stand divided. We lack a powerful narrative against terrorists and that's why they keep slaughtering our children and soldiers in the name of Islam," he said.
The parliamentary committee that is tasked with preparation of an action plan against the terrorism should look into different aspects of the menace and come up with some viable solutions to deal with the scourge, he suggested. The official said that a countrywide campaign should be started to de-weaponise the country and legislation should also be made in this regard. "The MQM has submitted a bill in the parliament for legislation to clean the country from weapons, but no other party has shown interest in the initiative," he said.
Madrassa reforms should be introduced in consultation with the religious clerics and seminary administrators to address the menace of terrorism and extremism, he suggested. The list of banned outfits shows that these organisations are working in all four provinces of the country including Punjab, Sindh, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Another official document available with Business Recorder reveals that as many as 13,053 cases have been registered with anti-terrorist courts from 2008 to date across Pakistan. As many as 14,115 accused have been exonerated while 10,387 are released on bail.