LAHORE, July 22: Police on Friday picked up 150 men on charges of misusing loudspeaker in mosques, and another 15 for allegedly belonging to banned militant groups, as part of the ongoing crackdown in Punjab. Most of the arrests –- 80 — were made in the Multan division. “We have arrested 80 men on charges of violation of laws regarding the use of loudspeaker in mosques,” Multan police chief DIG Malik Muhammad Iqbal told Dawn on phone.

He said 89 cases were registered against the 80 men, who had also been found involved in distributing and publishing hate literature.

He said police were also holding another over 100 militants of outlawed organizations. However, he added that it would be premature to link them with any international terror group.

“I can’t say anything right now,” he replied when asked was there any Al Qaeda man among those in custody.

The Lahore police registered 50 cases on charges of misusing mosque premises.

Three administrators of mosques were also picked up by the Lahore police, while the 15 alleged militants were arrested from other parts of Punjab.

Those arrested belonged to the outlawed Lashkar-i-Jhangvi, Jaish-i-Mohammad, Lashkar-i-Taiba and Hizb-ul-Tehrir. Some madressahs were also raided by police in search of militants, and at least three offices of the banned groups were sealed in southern Punjab.

Police contingents have been deployed at offices and houses of those wanted in the ongoing crackdown. A list of wanted men had already been handed over to the police by the Punjab government. The list has been finalized in consultation with various intelligence and law enforcement agencies, a senior Punjab government official said.

KARACHI: Police raided different mosques in various localities here on Friday and arrested eight prayer leaders on charges of violating the ban on using loudspeakers.