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NATIONAL ACTION PLAN 2015

Introduction
1. The National Action Plan is an action plan that was established by the
Government of Pakistan in January 2015 to crack down on terrorism and to
supplement the ongoing anti-terrorist offensive in North-Western Pakistan. It
is considered as a major coordinated state retaliation following the deadly
Peshawar school attack. The plan received unprecedented levels of support
and cooperation across the country's political spectrum, inclusive of the
federal and provincial governments.

2. It combines foreign and domestic policy initiatives aimed to crackdown and

eventually eliminate proscribed organizations across the country. The plan
was provided the framework for the Twenty-first Amendment to the
Constitution of Pakistan which established speedy trial military courts for
offences relating to terrorism. It has also led to the resumption of capital
punishment and mandatory re-verification through fingerprint recognition of
all subscribers on mobile telephony.

3. The National Action Plan authorizes the Foreign, Finance, and other
ministerial departments to reach out to the friendly Muslim countries to
clamp down on financiers of sectarian and terrorist networks operating
against Pakistan.

Aim
1.

To analyse the effectiveness of National Action Plan and its benefits to

eradicate terrorism from Pakistan after deadly attack on Army Public School in
Peshawer.
Sequence
2.

The paper shall deal with the topic at hand in the following sequence:a.

Background of national action plan.

b.

Establishment of Plan.

c.

The Plan

BACKGROUND OF NATIONAL ACTION PLAN

3.

On 16 December 2014, 7 gunmen affiliated with the Tehrik-i-Taliban (TTP)

conducted a terrorist attack on the Army Public School in the northwestern

Pakistani city of Peshawar. The militants, all of whom were foreign nationals,
included one Chechen, three Arabs and two Afghans. They entered the school
and opened fire on school staff and children,[5][7] killing 145 people, including
132 schoolchildren, ranging between eight and eighteen years of age.[8][9] A
rescue operation was launched by the Pakistan Army's Special Services
Group(SSG) special forces, who killed all seven terrorists and rescued 960.

Establishment of Plan
4.

On 24 December 2014 political parties conference chaired by Nawaz

Sharif reached consensus over the issue of setting up military courts for tackling
terrorism cases in the country, along with a wider plan to tackle terrorism.
5.

On 24 December the Prime Minister (PM) in a televised address to the

nation announced the 'National Action Plan' (NAP) to deal with terrorism.
According to the Interior Minister, the plan was prepared in the light of the
decisions taken by All Parties Conference. For this purpose the PM established
the National Action Committee consisting of the members from all the political
parties and decision were taken in the light of the recommendations of this
committee.

6.

The Pakistan

Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI)

called

off

the

protests

and

participated in the APC. However, it abstained from voting the bill and
amendment. Jamiat e Ulema e Islam Fazal Rahman Group (JUI F) and Jamaat-eIslami (JI) also abstained from voting. JI proposed that the word religion should
be omitted from the text of the bill. JUI insisted that the word sect is objectionable.
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Awami National Party (ANP) voted in
favour of the bill and amendment.

THE PLAN

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7.

The PM's address gave the following outline of the National Action Plan,

the points of which were decided in the APC are as under.

a.

Implementation of death sentence of those convicted in cases of

terrorism

b.

Special trial courts under the supervision of Army. The duration of

these courts would be two years

c.

Militant outfits and armed gangs will not be allowed to operate in the
country

d.

NACTA, the anti-terrorism institution will be strengthened

e.

Strict action against the literature, newspapers and magazines

promoting hatred, decapitation, extremism, sectarianism and
intolerance

f.

All funding sources of terrorists and terrorist outfits will be frozen

g.

The defunct outfits will not be allowed to operate under any other
name

h.

Establishing and deploying a dedicated counter-terrorism force

i.

End to religious extremism and protection of minorities will be

ensured

j.

Registration and regulation of religious seminaries

k.

Ban on glorification of terrorists and terrorist organisations through

print and electronic media

l.

Administrative and development reforms in FATA with immediate

focus on repatriation of IDPs

m.

Communication network of terrorists will be dismantled completely

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n.

Concrete measures against promotion of terrorism through internet

and social media

o.

No room will be left for the extremism in any part of the country

p.

Ongoing operation in Karachi will be taken to its logical end

q.

Balochistan government to be fully empowered for political

reconciliation with complete ownership by all stakeholders

r.

Action against elements spreading sectarianism

s.

Formulation of a comprehensive policy to deal with the issue of

Afghan refugees, beginning with registration of all refugees

t.

Reforms in criminal courts system to strengthen the anti-terrorism

institutions including provincial CIDs

Concl.
9.

Undoubtedly, Pakistan is going through one of its most difficult times in its

history but it seems the people and the leadership of the country has decided to take
a united stand against the elements threatening the security and sovereignty of the
country. It is the need of the time that decisions on matters of national security are
taken through mutual consensus and consultation.
10.

The National Action Plan can be successful if transparency and accountability

is maintained in implementing this plan. Mere slogans and speeches will not help
achieve the required targets, for that, sanity must prevail over rage and emotions.