RAWALPINDI: Two clerics, whose names had been included in the fourth schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), have left for Saudi Arabia without informing their respective police station.

A security official on Friday told Dawn that Qazi Abdul Rasheed, the general secretary of Wafaqul Madaris and the administrator of Madressah Darul Uloom Farooqia, Dhamial, and Qari Azizur Rehman Hazarvi of Westridge did not inform the police before leaving their hometowns. According to security sources, both the clerics were found missing from their home addresses when they did not show up in their respective mosque/madressah for the Friday prayers.

It emerged that Qazi Rasheed had left for Saudi Arabia on May 21 and Qari Hazarvi on May 25.

When contacted, Mohammad Qasim, the naib of Madressah Darul Uloom Farooqia, told Dawn that Qazi Rasheed had gone to perform Umrah. Mr Qasim said he had no knowledge of whether the cleric informed the police about his departure because he (Qasim) was in Multan on May 21.

Under Section IV of the ATA, individuals placed on the police watch list cannot visit government buildings, offices or educational institutions. And they cannot leave their respective districts without informing the concerned police station. Under the law, the person declared as fourth scheduler has to inform the police before leaving their hometown and upon return.

The individuals placed on the fourth schedule are also bound to provide a surety bond to the police for good behaviour and peaceful conduct. The undertaking given by the fourth scheduler is valid for three years.

City Police Officer (CPO) Israr Ahmed Abbasi told Dawn that the police had been reviewing the cases of individuals placed on the fourth schedule. He said 100 more individuals were expected to be placed on the watch list. “A fresh list containing the names of about 100 individuals has been given to the concerned authorities for putting them on the watch list,” the CPO said.

Published in Dawn, May 28th, 2016

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