The government has made a computerised record of those involved in anti-government and sectarian activities in the country.
"That's it, by Allah! We should have a database!"
"We can put it on the network!"
"But wait! We need a name... Something catchy..." |
The Sectarian Terrorism Activities Record (STAR) is held by the Interior Ministry’s National Crisis Management Cell. It was compiled in one year under a special package sponsored by the US government, sources told Daily Times.
| It took 'em a year? What'd they use? Soddy programmers? |
The names of activists of banned religious organisations, those involved in sectarian violence and terrorist sympathisers have been collected.
"Oh, we're makin' list
And checkin' it twice,
Gotta find out who's naughty and nice..." |
Intelligence and law enforcement agency officials collected photos and fingerprints of jailed activists of banned religious groups and those involved in sectarian activities.
"'At's it, Muggsy! Snarl pretty for the camera!"
"Damn, Ahmed! All these guys really do look alike!"
"It's the turbans, Mahmoud..." |
However, official sources refused to reveal how many people had been fingerprinted and photographed.
| "I can't say. I haven't learned to use the database yet..." |
Brigadier Javed Iqbal Cheema, director general of the NCMC, is overseeing the project. The funds for the STAR project were released under a 2002 agreement between Pakistan and the United States. The US government gave $70 million to the Pakistani government to purchase modern equipment to curb terrorism.
| I'da done it a lot cheaper than that... |
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