February 28, 2008	Thursday	Safar 20 ,1429

MARDAN, Feb 27: Law-enforcement and other agencies are collecting data on Afghan prayer leaders in different mosques of the district.

It is learnt that in the wake of recent terrorist activities, particularly suicide attacks, agencies have started collecting information about clerics and prayer leaders of various mosques in the district, most of whom happen to be Afghans. A majority of the Afghan prayer leaders, according to the data, have obtained Pakistani national identity cards and married local women to stay here.

Information about Afghans who have rented houses in city and rural areas and have businesses in Mardan is also being gathered.

Most of the prayer leaders, whose number according to the data is more than 1,000, live in Hoti, Bari Cham, Deli Mohalla, Baghdada, Iranabad, Chakaro Pull, Toru, Mayar, Labor Colony, Katlang, Takhtbai, Jalala, Rustam, Shahbaz Garhi, Bala Garhi, Bakh-shali and Gujrat. They are from different areas of Afghan-istan.