ISLAMABAD: The Punjab government has detained and prosecuted about 700 militants involved in sectarian violence over the last six months. In 2013, law-enforcement agencies in the province registered nearly 3,500 cases on charges of misusing loud speakers, delivering hate speeches, disseminating incendiary material and trying to cause divisions among different segments of society.

The information was released by the Director General of Public Relations (DGPR) Punjab in response to a story carried in this newspaper, calling attention to the presence of proscribed organisations’ sleeper cells in and around Lahore and the provincial government’s lukewarm response to these developments.

Referring to the arrest of a group of militants involved in high-profile attacks, including last month’s attempt to assassinate TV anchor Raza Rumi, the statement claimed, “All terrorists involved in high-profile sectarian attacks committed in Punjab have been arrested, including sectarian target killers in Lahore.”

The same group was also said to be behind incidents of sectarian violence in Gujranwala and Gujrat, including the desecration of various shrines and violence against their custodians.

“Sectarian attacks reported in cities such as Chakwal, Bhakkar, Rawalpindi and Faisalabad were successfully investigated and the perpetrators arrested over the course of the past few months.

“By keeping these terrorists off the street, incidents of sectarian (violence) in Punjab have also been significantly reduced,” it said.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has earmarked funds for modern resources, such as forensic laboratories, in the province, which prove the government’s commitment to dealing with terrorists, said the statement.

Talking to Dawn, a senior official of the Punjab police said that tracking down and apprehending the proclaimed offenders involved in sectarian crimes was primarily the job of district police officers (DPOs).

“In almost every meeting on the state of law and order in the province — chaired by the Punjab inspector general — the arrest of those wanted for sectarian violence topped the agenda,” he said.

However, because of religious sensitivities around these incidents and the attackers’ links to various religious organisations, police always encounter resistance when pursuing such criminals.

There is a need to proceed with caution in all such cases because these people have sympathisers among powerful politicians, which also affects the ability of the police to do its job.