ISLAMABAD: A draft of the National Action Plan (NAP) of the Interior Ministry will be compiled by the second week of October in the light of recommendations of 14 working groups of experts, a parliamentary panel was informed on Monday.

Amjad Ali Khan, headed National Assembly's Defence Committee was briefed by Defence Ministry on the National Action Plan pertaining to the ministry.

Regarding the National Action Plan, the committee was briefed that 14 working groups including six in Interior Ministry, and three groups at provincial level had been working to expedite work on the exercise.

However, the Defence Ministry is not a part of any working groups of experts. The officials of the ministry said that they should be given leading role as it had mandate to implement 20 actionable points in the plan.

The committee was informed that a draft of the National Action Plan had been under review, and it would be finalised in the second week of October. The Ministry of Interior stated that the ministry needed coordination and assistance from Foreign Affairs Ministry to control cyber crime issues.

The committee was informed that the federal government was engaged with the managements of Twitter, Facebook and other social media websites. However, the managements of these social media organisations are not entertaining all their requests. On the other hand, the committee was further informed, "We are also focusing on capacity building of technical staff through training programmes".

The Chairman Committee expressed displeasure over the reply of the Ministry of Interior. He said that armed forces personnel were fighting against terrorism and scarifying themselves in defence of the county but were facing venom spitted out on their sacrifices through the social media.

"We will not accept propaganda in any kind and shape against the armed forces," he said categorically. He observed that the ministries and organisations were not taking concrete steps and doing legislation for countering the propaganda against the armed forces of the country. Salahuddin Ayubi said that no action had been taken against criminals who were giving threats through calls.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020