January 15, 2002	Tuesday	Shawwal 30, 1422

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FAISALABAD, Jan 14: Local police teams removed on Monday signboards, posters, banners and flags from the offices of Jaish-i-Muhammad, Lashkar-i-Taiba, Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan, Tehrik-i-Jafaria Pakistan and Tanzeem Nifaz-i-Shariat-i-Muhammadi.

The teams also took into custody hundreds of cash boxes put up by Lashkar-i-Taiba for the collection of donations.

The shopkeepers were warned not to put the same in future otherwise strict action would be taken against them.

Some painters, reportedly hired by the law enforcement agencies, were seen white washing the city walls inscribed with slogans and messages of the banned groups.

Plainclothes personnel also checked the local printing presses and computer designing offices to stop their owners from publishing literature and other material of the banned bodies.

The owners were directed to immediately inform the area police in case someone approached them for getting literature, handbill or pamphlet of any banned group published.

Meanwhile, it was learnt that the federal government was considering to launch an operation against other militant groups and religious bodies in the country within next couple of days.

Sources told this correspondent on Monday that the law enforcement agencies had already sent detailed reports to the federal government in this regard.

“The Pak-Afghan Defence Council, Harkat Jihad-i-Islami, Al-Badar Mujahideen, Hizbul Jihad, Sunni Tehrik, Tanzeemul Akhwan, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam and Jamaat-i-Islami would not be allowed to hold public meetings and rallies without prior permission of the authorities concerned. In case of violation, stern action would be taken against their leaders and office-bearers,” sources said.

It would also be made mandatory for them not to use objectionable language for rulers and army in their speeches or in press statements.

Dozens of offices of religious bodies had already been closed down by their office holders who have confined their activities within boundary walls.

Sources said that police chiefs of all the districts have also been directed by the high-ups to replace the members of peace committees with new ones.

The influence of ‘old guards’ should also be minimized in the government departments and among public by adopting careful measures.

Intelligence agencies were also collecting information about the sponsors of banned militant groups.

Meanwhile, Sunni Defence Council’s provincial president Dr S.M. Athar has appreciated the government step to ban on militant groups.

In a statement here on Monday, he said that his organization would cooperate with the government on all forms for purging the society from terrorism.

ARRESTS: Crackdown on activists and leaders of five banned religious organizations and groups continued on Monday throughout the Punjab.

In Faisalabad, 19 more activists of the SSP and TJP were arrested besides sealing another 17 offices of the banned groups across the district.

The arrested persons were shifted to unknown places without registering any case against them.

The sealed offices of Lashkar-i-Taiba include tehsil offices at Samundari, Chak Jhumra, Jaranwala; regional offices at Mamukanjan, Satiana, Khurrianwala and Thikriwala.

Similarly, the sealed offices of the SSP include Samundari tehsil office in Jinnah Market and regional offices at Thikriwala and Dijkot. The TJP offices at Sultanpura, Allama Iqbal Colony and Hajveri Town were also sealed.

Police also sealed Jaish-i-Muhammad’s tehsil offices at Samundari and Jaranwala.

It may be mentioned that attendance in madaris remained thin.

BAHAWALPUR: As many as 40 activists of the banned religious groups, including SSP and TJP, have so far been rounded up in the Bahawalpur district.

Talking to Dawn, acting SSP Maqbul Ahmed said that 15 offices of the banned groups had also been sealed.

VEHARI: Forty activists of various religious parties banned by the government have been arrested from different parts of the district.

The arrests mainly came from Jallah Jeam, Tibba Sultanpur, Mailsi Dokha, Garah Morr, Pirmurad and Gago Mandi.

Police also sealed 12 offices of SSP, TJP and Jaish-i-Muhammad besides taking into custody their literatures.

SHEIKHUPURA: The district police rounded up 30 activists and sealed the offices of religious outfits in different areas.

CHINIOT: At least 14 activists of religious parties, including the Nazim of a union council, was arrested in the city.

Police also sealed the offices of Lashkar-i-Taiba, SSP and TJP.

Those arrested include Nazim Zulfiqar Jat, Zulfiqar Bhutto, Sher Ali, Bashir Ahmed, Muhammad Khalid, Naeem Ahmad, Muhammad Mansha, Abdullah, Ghulam Mustafa, Muhammad Riaz and Muhammad Yousaf.