FAISALABAD, Jan 3: Over two dozen religious leaders and activists were arrested by the local police during a crackdown here on Thursday.

Police teams headed by senior police officials raided almost all the offices of Jihadi organizations and religious bodies in the city and took into custody office-bearers and activists of Tehrik-i-Jafria Pakistan, Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan, Lashkar-i-Tayyaba.

Police also raided a number of houses of the religious leaders and arrested them. Armed police commandos have also been deputed outside the offices and houses of some of the religious leaders.

The arrested were identified as Syed Yawar Hussain Shamsi, divisional TJP president, Rana Khalid Mehmood, city TJP president TJP; and active workers and office-bearers of TJP, including Muhammad Gulzar, Syed Kausar Ali Shah, Abdul Hameed Abbas, Syed Sibtain Hussain Sherazi, Ghulam Hussain Hyderi, Sheikh Maqsood Ahmed, Syed Nasir Hussain Chan, Sohail Abbas Qureshi, Tahir Amin Jaafri, Syed Sagheer Hashmi, Muhammad Taqi Hussain.

The arrested SSP leaders are Qari Muhammad Yaqoob, Qari Muhammad Aslam, Muhammad Omer, Hafiz Muhammad Sohail, Qari Muhammad Ramazan, Maulana Abdul Shakoor, Muhammad Alam Tariq, Qari Omer Draz and Muhammad Tanveer.

Police also took into custody literature and other related material during raids on the offices of religious bodies. All the arrested were shifted to unknown places.

Meanwhile, Faisalabad Peace Committee head Pir Muhammad Ibrahim and office-bearers of SSP and TJP announced rallies in the city on Friday (today) after Friday prayers to condemn arrests.

The Pak-Afghan Defence Council, an organization of over a dozen religious bodies, also criticized the government step.

TOBA: City police arrested on Thursday evening district SSP president Maulana Muhammad Awais and PML(N) ulema wing district president Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Rabbani.