RAWALPINDI: At least 2,562 people have been arrested under the National Action Plan (NAP) in the Rawalpindi division though a slow pace of conviction in the terrorism cases has been observed by the government.

It may be noted that the NAP was chalked out in the wake of the terrorist attack on the Army Public School Peshawar in December 2014.

According to a police spokesperson, the police in the Rawalpindi division registered 1,271 cases against tenants who were living in rented premises without intimating the police. As many as 380 house owners and four property dealers were also put behind bars for violating the Punjab Information and Temporary Residents Ordinance 2015.

According to the ordinance, landlords and the administration of hotels and guesthouses are bound to provide information about the renters to the local police within three hours.

It has also been made compulsory for the real estate agents to submit the information about the tenants to the police within 48 hours after the house is rented out.

The spokesperson said 268 people were arrested for violating the Sound and Amplifier Act, 193 on the charges of wall-chalking and 58 for violating the Punjab Security of Vulnerable Establishment Ordinance 2015.

The police conducted 2,276 search operations against suspected people in 2,366 localities during which 86,441 people were investigated and 567 suspects taken into custody.

The police also carried out search operations and rounded up 319 illegal Afghan refugees while 11 other people were arrested on the charges of illegally selling armed forces uniforms and badges etc.

Under the category of hate material, four people were arrested in as many cases registered so far while 36 others were arrested for distributing provocative material.

The police also impounded at least 17,525 vehicles found without registration plates and 122 vehicles plying with unauthorised revolving lights.

The police also rounded up 22 religious extremists, including members of banned outfits, who were put under the fourth schedule of the anti-terrorism law.

Besides, 2,224 proclaimed offenders and 1,034 court absconders were also nabbed.

Regional Police Officer (RPO) Mohammad Wisal Fakhar Sultan Raja directed the police that the challans of the cases registered under NAP against the violators of loudspeaker act, distribution of hatred material and provocative speeches should be completed at the earliest and sent to courts.

However, the progress on the preparation and submission of such challans has been discouraging with City Police Officer (CPO) Israr Ahmed Abbasi awarding punishments to several investigating officers for their failure to send the challans to the courts.

According to a police source, the issue of slow conviction of the accused under NAP was discussed at a recent high-level meeting.

The CPO also warned the investigating officers that strict action would be taken against anyone who failed to send a complete challan of any case registered under NAP to the courts on time.

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2015

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