RAWALPINDI, July 31: As many as 26 clerics have been booked by the police on charges of violating the ban on misuse of loudspeakers in mosques and delivering anti-government speeches during Friday prayers, police sources said on Saturday.

According to the sources, Banni police registered cases against Maulana Ghulam Ali Qamar, prayer leader of Markazi Jamia Masjid, Qari Niamatullah Shah, Maulana Shamasuddin, Qari Abid Mehmood, Qari Mohammad Hanif and Capt (retired) Abdul Rehman of Eidgah mosque for allegedly misusing loudspeaker.

Waris Khan police booked Maulana Riaz Ahmed, Qari Abdul Rehman, Maulana Abdul Rehman and Qari Abdul Malik on same charges.

Likewise, Westridge and Pirwadhai police have also registered separate cases against Qari Azizur Rehman and Qari Sanaullah Tauheedi, respectively.

Ganjmandi police booked Maulana Shujauddin, Maulana Niaz, Prof Mohammad Ibraheem, Maulana Habibullah and Maulana Ghulam Habib of Darul Aloom Raja Bazaar.

Qari Hifzur Rehman was booked by Kahuta police, while Qari Sharifullah, Maulana Abdul Rehman and Maulana Abdul Hameed Sialvi were booked by Kalar Saidan police.

Gujar Khan police registered FIRs against three clerics — Qari Zahoor Ahmed Chishti, Qari Shabir Usmani and Maulana Abdul Mateen.

Similarly, Wah Cantonment police have registered separate cases against Maulana Mohammad Afzal and Maulana Zafarul Haq.

NARCOTICS SEIZED: The Anti-Narcotics Force seized 20kg of fine quality Charas and arrested two motorbike riders in connection with narcotics smuggling on Saturday, the authorities said.

Following a tip-off that a gang of smugglers will try to smuggle narcotics from the NWFP to Punjab, a raiding party led by Inspector Taimur Khan intercepted a motorbike (GTH-4253) and seized the contraband from the possession of the two persons riding the bike.

Separate cases were registered against the accused identified as Yasar Arfat and Mohammad Arshad.

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