Punjab recommends ban on extremist group, orders crackdown

LAHORE: The Punjab government has decided to recommend the federal government to impose a ban on an extremist organization, following a high-level meeting on law and order chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.

During the meeting, it was decided that individuals involved in hate speech, incitement, and violations of law will be immediately arrested. The chief minister emphasized that no one will be allowed to disrupt peace or challenge the writ of the state, reaffirming her government’s commitment to maintaining law and order across the province.

The meeting also reviewed measures to curb extremism and ensure strict enforcement of laws to safeguard public safety and social harmony.

According to the decisions made during the meeting, the Punjab government will recommend the federal government to impose a ban on an extremist organization involved in violent and provocative activities.

The government has directed that individuals involved in hate speech, incitement, or lawlessness be immediately arrested, while those responsible for attacks on police officers and destruction of public property will face trials in anti-terrorism courts.

It was also decided that the leadership of the extremist group will be placed on the fourth schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act, and all properties and assets of the organization will be handed over to the Auqaf Department.

A complete ban will be enforced on the group’s posters, banners, and advertisements, while its social media accounts spreading hate will be shut down. The group’s bank accounts will also be frozen.

The meeting decided to take strict action for violations of the Loudspeaker Act.

Additionally, the Punjab government has decided to bring Afghan citizens under the tax net and to prepare real-time data of illegal Afghan residents. A whistleblower system will be introduced to report illegal migrants, ensuring complete confidentiality of informants.

A combing operation will be launched against illegal foreign residents and their businesses, while such individuals will be deported in accordance with the federal government’s policy.

The provincial government also ordered the immediate recovery of illegal weapons, granting a one-month deadline for citizens to deposit unlicensed arms.

Citizens have been instructed to register their legal weapons at Khidmat Centers within the same period. The government has ordered inspection of all arms dealers and their stock, and imposed a complete ban on the issuance of new weapon licenses.

Furthermore, Punjab has recommended to the federal government to regularize arms factories and manufacturers, and has approved an increase in the punishment for possessing illegal weapons — setting the penalty at up to 14 years imprisonment and a fine of Rs2 million, making it a non-bailable offense.