LAHORE: The Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, has approved a comprehensive plan to tighten law enforcement, target extremist elements, and regulate illegal foreign residents in the province.
In a high-level law and order meeting chaired by the Chief Minister, the provincial cabinet decided to recommend a ban on a specific extremist party to the federal government. The group is accused of inciting violence, hate speech, and involvement in attacks on law enforcement.
Those responsible for the killing of police officers and destruction of public property will be tried in anti-terrorism courts (ATCs), officials confirmed. The group's leadership will be placed under the Fourth Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act, and all of its assets will be taken over by the Auqaf Department.
The government also announced a complete ban on the group’s posters, banners, advertisements, and social media presence. Bank accounts associated with the organization will be frozen, and the Loudspeaker Act will be strictly enforced.
Separately, the Punjab government has decided to expand its tax net to include Afghan nationals residing in the province. Real-time data on illegal residents will be compiled, and a province-wide combing operation will be launched against unauthorized foreign individuals and businesses.
A whistleblower system will be introduced to allow citizens to confidentially report illegal residents, with assurance of complete secrecy of informants' identities. Deportations will be carried out according to federal policy.
These measures aim to uphold state authority, ensure rule of law, and eliminate threats posed by extremist elements and undocumented foreigners.
