KP plans to set up faceless ATCs, spend Rs70bn on CTD and police in a year as part of counterterrorism initiatives

The administrative setup in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa plans to establish faceless anti-terrorism courts in the province as part of its initiatives to strengthen the fight against terrorism, according to a briefing by the officials televised on Sunday.

KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi was also present at the briefing, where KP Secretary Home Amjad Ali Khan outlined several measures planned to step up the fight against terrorism and explained that witnesses in terrorism cases feared coming forward.

“So, we have recently sent the amendment to set up faceless anti-terrorism courts. Through this, not just the protection of witnesses, but that of prosecutors and judges will also be ensured,” he said.

Moreover, he said the administrative setup planned to spend Rs70 billion on the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and police in a year, in order to increase their capacity.

Talking about dealing with terrorism in the policy domain, Khan noted that in the past there had been a “lack of political ownership” in the fight against terrorism in the province.

“Our armed forces and law enforcement agencies are making sacrifices in the war against terrorism; however, [..] the provincial government was not taking ownership for them.”

The Centre imposed governor’s rule and emergency in KP on Oct 11, citing the PTI-led provincial government’s “deliberate disengagement” from the fight against terrorism.

Khan stressed the need for a “close liaison” on terrorism between the public, political leadership, and security forces. He further recalled that despite the Centre formulating an Afghan policy, “actions continued to be taken in the province contrary to that policy, leading to confusion among the people”.

He also noted that there was “propaganda against the security forces in attempts to sabotage the counterterrorism efforts in the province”.

The official then spoke of the “insufficient funding” for civil law enforcement agencies (LEAs), including police and CTD, particularly in the merged districts, where he said only 3.2 per cent of the budget was allocated for security.

He highlighted a shortage of over 10,000 personnel in the police, while also noting the lack of security infrastructure.

“Along with that, in the merged districts, most of the dependence regarding the police force is on former ex-Fata Khasadars and Levies,” he said, adding that the police personnel did not receive adequate training.

He further highlighted inadequate counter-drone protection, for which the available system was at a capacity of 12pc, noting that terrorists were using drone technology as well, “due to which we are suffering considerable losses”.

He also highlighted the lack of adequate Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams.

“Because of these issues [..] we have suffered significant losses over the past two or three years in which 1,003 personnel of the armed forces were martyred, 627 police personnel, and 808 civilian casualties occurred,” he stated.

Referring to the Centre’s Rs160bn package for uplift of KP, Khan said that the provincial set-up and the federal government were on the same page, expressing hope that “its effects will be seen in the coming days”.

He went on to outline plans to strengthen police capacity in the province, including fortifying sensitive police stations and check posts, extending the Safe City project, and establishing anti-drone systems in Dera Ismail Khan, Lakki Marwat, and Bannu as well as functionalising District Nerve Centres in ten districts.

Updated information will be available to LEAs from the centres, he added.

Under the legal interventions in policing, the official said that faceless ATC courts will be set up.

“Witnesses in terrorism cases are afraid to come forward due to their identity. So we have recently sent the amendment for these faceless courts. Through this measure, witnesses, prosecutors, and judges will have their protection ensured,” he stated.

Detailing the technical abilities of the police, the official said that satellite communication systems were being set up in areas with no prior communication system.

He added that the provincial administration was also deploying AI tools for social media monitoring to counter terrorists’ narrative.

Khan also stressed the need for increased public outreach, including strengthening District Dispute Resolution Councils as well as establishing tribal liaison committees.

“Regular jirgas will be held with notables, regular interaction will occur with the public, and community mobilisation will take place,” he stated.

He also outlined plans for police to be trained in modern technology such as anti-drone systems and sniping. He also recalled the provincial setup’s decision to revise packages for martyred police personnel.

Khan continued: “Kinetic operations will be scaled up so that militancy can be eliminated. In this regard, intelligence-based operations will be enhanced, area sanitisation will be carried out [..], terrorist facilitators will be arrested, and re-verification will also be carried out for people on the fourth schedule to ensure none of them is providing facilitation or support to terrorists.

He also added that the Rapid Response Force will be mobilised. Khan added that the provincial administration also planned to increase the number of police check posts.

He announced that the government was spending Rs70bn on CTD and police annually.

“In this regard, the police are being given Rs59.8bn, of which Rs33.4bn will be for their infrastructure and Rs26.4bn will be for procurement, while Rs10.3bn is being given to the CTD, of which Rs5.4bn is for infrastructure, and Rs4.9bn for procurement.”

He added that police surveillance capacity — at 15pc presently — will be increased to 60pc, while for CTD it will be enhanced by 70pc.

“The police’s counter-aerial threat capacity, which is currently at 1pc, will be taken up to 50pc. Our air strike capability is currently at 18pc and will be increased to 50pc, as well as night fighting capacity, with vehicle armour capacity of the police to be improved by 45pc,” the official said.

He added that “jammer availability was at 40pc but will be increased to 50pc while counter-drone capability — at 52pc presently — will be increased to 60pc”.

Protective gear and vehicle availability will be improved as well, while specialised training will be held in collaboration with the Pakistan Armed Forces.

The official also announced action against smuggling, narcotics, extortion and non-custom-paid vehicles.

“The purpose of all these measures is to provide a safe and secure environment to the people of KP where they can spend their lives, according to their codes and traditions,” Khan concluded.

Since the imposition of the governor’s rule in KP, the provincial administration has vowed to steer the province towards development and eliminate terrorism. Chairing his first apex committee meeting after taking charge of the province, governor Kundi promised to equip police and CTD with resources.

“Whatever weapons you want, whatever you need, we will get them to you. We will not compromise on our police officers and personnel. We will equip them well,” Kundi had said at the meeting.

Last month, he also announced an increase in the compensation packages for police officers martyred or injured in the line of duty.

Governor Kundi calls for ownership of war against terrorism

Speaking at the occasion, Governor Kundi said the provincial government’s priority was to restore peace and strengthen the police force, stressing that development would follow once security was ensured.

He said the police were at the forefront of the war against terrorism and needed to be adequately equipped to carry out their responsibilities. “Until we strengthen and facilitate [the police], how will they fight using just one Kalashnikov and a few bullets?” Kundi asked.

While the government had announced compensation packages for the families of police martyrs and was working on improving police salaries, it would also provide the force with weapons, ammunition and other resources, Kundi stressed during his speech.

“We talk a lot about merged districts, but as far as I know, not a single police line has been created in our merged districts, our former Fata. Look at their police stations, check posts, and facilities,” Kundi highlighted, adding that the government had directed the chief secretary and additional chief secretary to prepare a comprehensive package in this regard.

He said the plan also included solarising and equipping police facilities.

The governor pointed out the “lack of political ownership” previously with regard to the war against terrorism in the province.

“When something happened here, voices always came from the assemblies saying that this is ‘not our war’. We don’t own it,” Kundi said.

He questioned what the families of martyrs would say when political leaders did not take ownership of the war. “For whom did the martyr make this sacrifice? Was it for this soil, this country, or was it made under a specific agenda?” he asserted.

“If I have a gunman who is there for my protection, and I say that I don’t even own this gunman, how will he protect me?” Kundi asked rhetorically.

According to the governor, not owning the war indicated a lack of coordination.

Kundi referred to the security situation in parts of KP, adding that political leaders, including a former chief minister and JUI-F’s Maulana Fazlur Rehman, had acknowledged difficulties in moving freely in certain areas.

“If intelligence-based operations do not take place and the police and security forces do not conduct operations, how will these problems be resolved?” he asked.

Kundi said the current set-up’s stance was “clear” and that decisions and policies would be made in Islamabad rather than “Kabul, Kandahar or Jalalabad”.

The governor alleged that Afghanistan was facilitating India and Israel in using its territory against Pakistan. He referred to reports of drones entering Pakistan, saying some had crossed the border but were intercepted by Pakistani forces. He then criticised the lack of response by the previous government to statements by Afghan ministers threatening to take over Peshawar.

Kundi said Pakistan had repeatedly raised its concerns about Afghan soil being used to facilitate terrorism at international forums through the Foreign Office and the deputy prime minister and foreign minister, but Kabul had not budged an inch on addressing the issue.

“It is very clear that whoever does not accept our state, Constitution and laws cannot be engaged in dialogue. Anyone who takes up arms against the state cannot be offered dialogue; they will be responded to accordingly,” Kundi asserted.

During his speech, the governor stressed the importance of winning public trust, recalling that the province began its journey towards peace in 2008, when it was grappling with suicide bombings, target killings, kidnappings for ransom, among other problems.

He said public support had been crucial to previous military operations and would remain essential to counterterrorism efforts.

“You saw we cleared Swat; the world’s largest displacement occurred at that time, and we rehabilitated the people. People supported us for the operation.”

Reiterating that the government had a zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism, Kundi said the fight against it remained its foremost priority, with development coming afterwards. “You can build roads, large underpasses and even turn the city into a garden, but what is the point if the people themselves are not safe?” he said.

He stressed that people needed to be assured that their children could go to school, college and playgrounds and return safely, while family members could travel to work or conduct business without fear. The governor also called for greater engagement of the province’s large youth population through “positive activities”.