ISLAMABAD: (DNA) – Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Khan Afridi on Tuesday said 44 persons belonging to banned organisations had been taken into custody as per the directives of National Security Committee (NSC).

Addressing a news conference in Islamabad along with Secretary Interior Major (retd.) Azam Suleman Khan, Afridi said that actions were being taken against all proscribed outfits without any discrimination.

He said that Pakistan was acting against the banned groups in its own interest and there was no external pressure whatsoever on the country.

“Pakistan’s land would not be used against anyone or any country, and it would not allow others to intervene into its affairs”, he said.

The interior minister said rule of law would be implemented in ‘New Pakistan’.

To a query, he said that the arrested persons also include Mufti Abdur Rauf and Hammad Azhar.

The minister said actions under the National Action Plan (NAP) would continue. He said progress on the NAP would be reviewed after every fortnight.

The secretary interior said the investigation would be carried out against those under arrest and action would be taken if anything was established in the investigation.

He said action against banned elements would last for another two weeks. He said anybody could be taken into custody if more evidence were found.