Pak to first target militant groups causing internal unrest

Pakistani authorities have planned to target only those militant groups involved in attacks on security forces or bombings inside the country, in the first phase of their anti-terror strategy.
Dawn newspaper reported that out of about 72 banned organisations, only a handful are likely to face action in the coming days as part of the government's impending crackdown on terrorists and militant groups.
"At least in the initial stages, it would be on organisations which had taken up arms against the state," it said quoting an unnamed security official.
Such organisations will not be allowed to operate on Pakistani soil anymore and members of such groups who are known to be involved in violent activities will be arrested.

"Following their arrest and interrogation, such individuals will be produced before military courts for trial under a defined procedure," the official said.
The official confirmed that groups which had claimed responsibility for recent terrorist attacks would be proceeded against, but refused to give any details.

An official of the interior ministry said, it was "not advisable" to simultaneously act against all banned outfits.
The provinces had been asked to identify outlawed outfits and keep an eye on key terror operatives.
They will also be looking into groups that have re-emerged under different names after their original incarnation was banned by the government.

It is believed that al-Qaeda, Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, and some of its factions, including the Tehreek-i-Taliban Bajaur, Tehreek-i-Taliban Mohmand and Tehreek-i-Taliban Swat are on the hit list.
Then there are organisations whose names reflect their inherently militant nature, such as the Balochistan Liberation Army, Balochistan Republican Army, Balochistan United Army, United Baloch Army, Balochistan Bunyad Parast Army, the 313 Brigade and the Abdullah Azzam brigade, among others.
Pakistan has stepped up its anti-terror offensive after the deadly Peshawar school massacre last month that killed 150 people, mostly schoolchildren.
The government has also decided to set up military courts for speedy trial of terrorists.