GUJRAT: The provincial home department has extended the detention of three leaders of a banned outfit for two months besides detention orders of another seven activists of the sectarian and banned outfits from Gujrat have also been issued.

Official sources in the district government told Dawn three local leaders of the banned outfit, Qari Faiz Rasool, Qari Ehsanul Haq and Abdul Rehman, who were already in the district jail for the last more than two months would remain in captivity.

The different law enforcement and intelligence agencies as well as the district government had recommended the extension of the detention period after evaluating the circumstances and intelligence information.

As many as two dozen activists of various banned and sectarian outfits have so far been detained under the Maintenance of Public Ordinance for implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) in Gujrat whereas at least three dozen people have so far been included in the list of the 4th Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Some of the detained activists have secured their release, by challenging the government notification of their detention in the Lahore High Court.

CANCELLED: The district government has cancelled licences of at least five van stands in the district for failing to provide facilities to the passengers which are mandatory under the law.

Road Transport Authority secretary Najam Riaz Sethi, after conducting regular inspection of the stands, recommended to the Gujrat district coordination officer (DCO) to take a legal action against them. The DCO, the chairman of district road transport authority, issued an official notification of cancellation of licenses of the van stands out of which three were operating from Gujrat city and two from Kharian and Dinga towns. The van stands lacked the basic facilities like washrooms and waiting rooms for the passengers.

BUSTED: Kharian police claimed to have busted two gangs of robbers and cattle thieves, recovering at least seven animals, cash and gold ornaments worth Rs2 million from them.

Acting Gujrat District Police Officer Kamran Mumtaz told the reporters at a news conference police had arrested a five-member Akram alias Akra Gang of cattle lifters and recovered six buffaloes and a cow from them.

He said an inter-district gang of robbers known as Shada Gang that had committed crimes in Gujrat, Jhleum, Mirpur and other areas had also been arrested. Twelve tolas of gold ornaments, Rs0.7 million cash and other valuables were also recovered from the gang.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2015

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