Addressing a State Affairs Committee meeting of parliament on Tuesday, Minister Rawal said that the government is putting in efforts to curb the activities of such groups through a Special Security Plan to restore effective law and order. He sought the cooperation of all political parties to help implement the plan, saying that ´political pressure´ for the release of arrested criminals was posing a difficulty in ensuring law and order.
Altogether 109 armed groups are said to be operating in various parts of the country, according to the Home Ministry.
Rawal said that the Special Security Plan is aimed at curbing the practice of obstructing essential services and blockading highways, and the excesses unleashed by various armed groups active in different parts of the country including the troubled Tarai districts.
He asked political parties to extend their full cooperation to the Security Plan and not just look at it through ´political lens.´ He expressed confidence that the security situation would become normal soon if there was support for the government from all the political parties.
He said the Home Ministry will get tough with armed groups posing any threat to territorial integrity and communal harmony as it is the duty of a responsible government to curb such activity. He said the government has put in all its efforts to restore effective law and order and help take the ongoing peace process to a logical end.
Responding to queries by lawmakers, Minister Rawal said that the government has started diplomatic efforts to curb cross border criminal activities. He also said that his ministry has started work on a Police Service Commission and to check irregular transfers and promotions within the police organization and strengthen the security agencies.
Minister Rawal said that special efforts would be undertaken to check bribery and irregularities said to be rife within the police.
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