The arrest of Mufti Kifayatullah, a firebrand leader of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F), is an indication of how the state is going to clamp down on elements involved in inciting violence through hate speech. Mufti Kifayatullah allegedly criticised state institutions and glorified terrorists during his address in Chiniot. The personnel of the Counter-Terrorism Department have taken him into custody. This is the first arrest after the imposition of Section 11-E of the Anti-Terrorism Act in the country. A parallel case can be found this week when the Lahore High Court imposed a ban on the coverage of speeches, display of pictures and activities of MQM chief Altaf Hussain in both the print and electronic media. The action against those playing with the sentiments of common citizens and inciting them towards violence on ethnic and religious grounds can only be welcomed. Since the start of the current week, the civil and military leaderships are holding joint meetings to find ways and means to curb the menace of sectarianism and hatemongering. A political will has been evolved after decades of indecisiveness over how to check the sectarian violence in society that has played havoc with the social fabric and taken hundreds and thousands of lives. Earlier, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan announced that the state will now take action against those calling others kafir (non-Muslim), adding that the government had already tackled hate speech and glorification of terrorists. Now, the government is following the policy of zero tolerance against those who incite others to violence. It is a good sign that the present civil and military leaderships have reached a consensus on taking action withoit discrimination against extremists. However, they need to be consistent about the policy of tackling extremism with an iron hand. So far, the results of hate speech by extremist individuals have been disastrous. Due to the absence of a clear policy on how to deal with these negative activities, our country has been plunged into so many problems. In order to fulfil their vested interests, hate mongers openly defy the government writ and instigate the people to kill others in the name of religion. These uncontrolled activities of religious extremists have shattered peace in the country. Unfortunately, successive governments did not take any serious step to curb this evil phenomenon that has given birth to the monster of terrorism. It is high time the government should consistently work to clear up this mess once and for all. *