January 15, 2002	Tuesday	Shawwal 30, 1422

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GILGIT, Jan 14: The Northern Areas administration has decided not to arrest the leaders and activists of the five militant groups that the federal government banned on Saturday.

After the imposition of the ban, the leaders of the Tehrik-i-Jafria Pakistan and the Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan were summoned to the Northern Areas home department and warned of arrest if they defied the ban or indulged in sectarian activities.

According to sources in the administration, the offices of the TJP, the SSP, the Lashkar-i-Taiba, the Jaish-i-Mohammad and the Tehrik Nifaz Shariat-i-Mohammadi have been sealed in the Northern Areas.

The sources said the leaders of the groups had assured the administration that they would not protest against the government’s decision.

Meanwhile, all the executive members of the Northern Areas Legislative Council (NALC) were asked to meet Northern Areas Chief Executive Abbas Sarfraz Khan in Islamabad to discuss the current situation.

LPG STATIONS: The sub-divisional magistrate of Gilgit has directed the owners of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) filling stations and dealers and distributors of the utility to shift their stations, shops and godowns from the main markets of the city with immediate effect.

The magistrate has imposed a ban on filling of LPG within the city and asked more than 42 LPG filling stations’ owners to close down their businesses.

Officials said that no body would be allowed to set up LPG business without acquiring a non-objection certificate.

The officials rejected a plea of LPG filling stations’ owners that they would equip their stations with safety kits.