RAWALPINDI: Punjab police have decided to obtain sureties from 17 individuals placed on the 4th schedule of the Anti-terrorism Act.

Eight of these individuals were associated with different mosques as Khateebs in the Rawalpindi district.

Maulana Qazi Abdul Rasheed, the Khateeb of Jamia Darul Uloom Farooqia of Quaid-i-Azam Colony and Maulana Azizur Rehman Hazarvi, the Khateeb of Jamia Masjid Siddiq-i-Akbar Westridge were among those who were placed on the fourth Schedule by the police.

According to security sources, three of these 17 people placed on the fresh watch list were not at their home addresses and had gone to perform Haj without informing the concerned police stations.

Qazi Abdul Rasheed, deputy secretary of Wafaqul Madaris, is also missing from his home. Dawn found his cellphone switched off after attempts to contact him.

The Anti-terrorism Act is very clear about the activities of individuals placed on the watch list. The counter terrorism department has found that the local police were not taking appropriate measures to check the activities of such persons.

Under section IV of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997, individuals charged with terror activities had to inform their respective police stations before leaving their hometowns and upon return. Also, the individuals placed on the fourth schedule of the ATA are bound to provide a surety bond to the police for good behaviour and peaceful conduct after having been released from prison. The undertaking is good for three years with two guarantors who can be members of his family or other relatives.

Keeping in view the reports of counter terrorism department Punjab, the districts police chiefs (CPOs) across the province have been directed last week to obtain surety bonds from the remaining 17 individuals.

Of the 17 individuals placed on 4th schedule eight were associated with different madressahs in the district.

The eight individuals were Maulana Qazi Abdul Rasheed, Khateeb Jamia Darul Uloom Farooqia Quaid-i-Azam Colony Dhamial Rawalpindi, Maulana Azizur Rehman, Khateeb Jamia Masjid Siddiq-i-Akbar Westridge, Qari Abdul Wajid, Khateeb Jamia Masjid Rawat, Maulana Mohammad Saddique, Khateeb Jamia Masjid Wah Cantt, Qari Amjad Iqbal, Aliot, Murree; Qari Shafiqur Rehman, Pathll, Murree; and Maulana Umar Farooq of Wah Cantt.

A fresh list containing the names and residential addresses of these 17 individuals was sent to the City Police Officer Rawalpindi by the chief of police Punjab Mushtaq Ahmed Sukhera last Tuesday to obtain sureties from the said individuals.

The police were also directed to take legal action against such persons who were reluctant to or refusing to follow the law, and to then register a separate case against them under relevant sections of ATA.

A senior security official said that the names of the 17 individuals, including some prominent figures were placed on 4th schedule for having links with banned organisations.

He said that obtaining sureties from such individuals had not been enough to bind them not to get involved in any an illegal activity.

Earlier in the first week of August, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) along with local police had launched a search operation in Rawalpindi district to collect details related foreign students studying in 22 madressahs.

In the ensuing search operation the CTD staff and the police entered the Madressah Darul Uloom Farooqia where Qazi Abdur Rashid is deputy secretary of Wafaqul Madaris.

Qazi Abdul Rashid had expressed his concern over the police raid which he said should not have been carried out as it created panic in the neighbourhood and among the students.

He believed that the government should have initiated a dialogue if it wanted to get any information regarding the students and madressahs.

When contacted, City Police Officer Israr Ahmed Abbasi said the police have started a survey about the individuals who were placed on 4th schedule in the fresh list and whoever was found missing from his home address or failed to give sureties will be booked under the relevant law.

He said people who were trained in Afghanistan during the 1980s and later returned to Pakistan were also included in the fresh list. He added that the police were also keeping an eye on the activities of people associated with Lal Masjid and those who had come back to Pakistan after serving in Afghan jails.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd , 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play