RAWALPINDI: As part of the National Action Plan against terrorism, hate material seized by Rawalpindi district police reveals that various schools of thought promote hatred against one another and stand divided over many issues.

According to police sources, in the seized books, sects attack one another and also disagree over the celebration of Eid Miladun Nabi, the birth anniversary of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Also read: Clampdown on religious hatemongers ordered

“Out of the four books seized in Attock, one presented the views of Deobandis against Barelvis, another spoke against Ahle Tashie (Shia) and the remaining two provocatively called for jihad,” District Police Officer Israr Ahmed Abbasi told Dawn.

All those who were found selling hate material were arrested, he added.

A book seized from the Quran Mahal bookshop at Iqbal Road contained strictures against celebrating Eid-Miladun Nabi. The owner of the bookshop was arrested. In a second raid conducted at Maktaba Usmani, also on Iqbal Road, police found material provocative to both Barelvis and Debandis. The owner of this book shop and his business partner were also arrested.

Inspector Raja Abdul Rasheed said police were hunting for Muhammad Zaheer accused of selling the book ‘Bint-a-Abu Jehel’ at Ahmed Book Corporation.

All those arrested have been charged under Section 9 and 11 of the Anti-Terrorism Act and face five to seven-year imprisonment, if convicted.

Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif has directed the divisional police chiefs of the province to carefully peruse the alleged hate material before registering cases.

This directive came after Sunni Tehreek took up issue with the chief minister over the registration of cases against clerics of the group over misuse of loudspeakers.

Punjab police chief Mushtaq Ahmed Sukhera subsequently instructed concerned Deputy Superintendents (DSPs) to verify hate material and violation of the ban on use of loudspeaker prior to the registration of cases.

A senior police officer, requesting anonymity, said that although many cases had been genuine some might have been registered to make the authorities appear active against extremism.

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2015

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