Thursday, March 20, 2014
Intelligence convergence
THE National Counter-Terrorism Authority (Nacta) has been reformed and the National Intelligence Directorate set up. Intelligence agencies in the country, 26 in total according to the last count by the interior ministry, will now be working under the directorate’s umbrella to fight terrorism. That should, hopefully, remove some of the confusion that would but be a natural consequence of so many agencies working simultaneously. Ideally, it should lead to reformation based on fresh delineation of work. The government, at least on paper, will oversee the collection of terrorism-specific information from the civilian as well as military agencies. The emphasis is on whether the change will give the government the powers governments in Pakistan have been after for long. It will also have to be watched whether it is a gathering of big names with some substance or a collection signifying little.
Some of these agencies have been working by themselves for so long and have acquired a reputation for shunning all kinds of ‘outside interference’ from state organisations. That they are willing to sit together after years of persuasion is described as a ‘momentous’ development. An occasion where they are actually seen to be aiding each other in fighting terrorism would in the same vein inspire the loudest celebrations before it can inspire hope of some kind of security in the people.
Clearly, it is a compromise. In the old Pakistani context, it would appear the agencies have allowed some semblance of authority to the government. The impression is strengthened by the fact that there is still plenty of room for the agencies to work on their own, unhindered by the directorate’s presence. The intelligence sharing in the directorate is to be specific to counterterrorism. Of course, there could always be difference of opinion on what can be construed as terrorism and lines will be blurred and not too difficult to cross. From among these known and unknown 26 agencies, the Inter-Services Intelligence has been visibly the most reluctant to lend itself to civilian control. The Pakistan Peoples Party’s last government tried to bring the ISI under the interior ministry, in vain and some say shoddily. An official has now been quoted as saying that “a wing of the military-run agency dealing with issues relating to counterterrorism would report to the new directorate.” And that “the ISI has a vast area of operation and works as the first line of defence against internal and external security threats. ...” This would make it seem as if the Pakistan Muslim League-N has only partially succeeded where the PPP had failed completely. The civilian-military balance will continue to be one of the most significant issues of discussion, but the success of the National Intelligence Directorate will be measured on the basis of some real and quick advances against terror.
No further delay
EVERY time the higher judiciary turns up the heat on the provinces to conduct local government elections, the respective administrations come up with one excuse or the other to delay the polls. Hence it is hoped that the Supreme Court’s orders to hold the polls by Nov 15 in Sindh and Punjab are taken seriously by the provincial administrations that have — apart from Balochistan — failed to conduct this vital democratic exercise. The apex court ordered the centre and provinces on Wednesday to complete all legislation related to the LG polls by November. Meanwhile on Tuesday the SC had directed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to hold the polls within a month. The KP government has reportedly said delimitation is complete and it is ready for the elections. Since the KP administration has sent positive signals while the apex court has given Punjab and Sindh nearly eight months to sort out all legal and logistical issues that stand in the way of the LG polls, there should be no more delays. There has been some talk in political circles that local elections should not be held until a fresh census is completed as the current data is outdated. While there can be no two opinions about the need for a fresh census, this need should not be linked to the LG polls. After all, last year’s general elections were also held according to the ‘old’ data, and the political parties did not object to this fact.
The real reason behind the foot-dragging by the parties seems to be that the political elite are not comfortable with devolving power to the third tier, while political players may also be wary about results that do not turn up as per their ‘liking’. This is the case even while three different parties rule KP, Sindh and Punjab respectively. But such attitudes fly in the face of the democratic spirit. The SC and the Election Commission of Pakistan must ensure there is no more dilly-dallying by the provinces on this key issue and polls are not delayed further. Also, it must be ensured that LG polls are held in cantonments. Many civilians live in cantonment areas and should not be denied the right to elect local representatives.
KP police pay raise
AMONG the law enforcement agencies most impacted by the war against militancy in the country are the KP police. Operating in a province contiguous with the tribal areas from where much of the threat of militant violence emanates, their job is a particularly perilous one in which the risk to their lives is constant and unrelenting. Over 30 policemen have been killed and 48 wounded in terrorist attacks this year. Last year, the number of deaths crossed 120. It is only fitting that they be fairly compensated for the extremely demanding nature of their work and the chief minister has taken a laudable initiative in sanctioning a special allowance for the provincial police, thereby effecting a pay raise, despite reservations by his finance department.
It has been pointed out that as the special allowance will be calculated on the basis of the policemen’s daily salary, the measure will benefit higher-ranking officers far more than constable-level personnel. The difference in the numbers appears particularly lopsided when one considers that it is lower-tier cops — constables, inspectors, etc — who are on the front line against militant violence, a fact clearly illustrated by their overwhelming presence in the lists of ‘shaheed’ policemen. However, the typical pyramid-shaped organisational structure means there are far more personnel at the lower levels than in the higher echelons, and budgetary constraints thus preclude what could be seen as a more equitable enhancement in salary. The move is nevertheless a much-needed shot in the arm for the beleaguered force. Meanwhile, police in Karachi too are beset by multidimensional security challenges. In 2013, over 150 were killed in the line of duty. So far this year, 46 have been killed and 67 injured in acts of terrorism. The Sindh government could take its cue from KP and improve the pay structure of its police, the most poorly compensated of the provincial police forces. Those who are our first line of defence against the terrorist threat deserve nothing less.