Pakistan to set up an anti-terror helpline

Islamabad: Pakistan’s National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) on Tuesday announced coming up with a dedicated phone line to report terror-related activities. [caption id=“attachment_2022415” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. AP[/caption] The interior ministry has appealed to all citizens to remain vigilant regarding their surroundings and report on the helpline number 1717 in case they witness any suspicious person or activity, Dawn online reported. The 1717 emergency helpline would work round the clock and is said to be have a state-of-the-art system. The government has been taking various initiatives to curb terrorism in the wake of the brutal attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar on 16 December, which killed 148 people, mainly school children. A national action plan has also been agreed upon by all the major political stakeholders in the country to formulate a joint-national strategy in countering terrorism. Establishment of military courts to carry out the trial of terrorists has been an important initiative in this regard. IANS