Police on Sunday sealed a seminary in Karachi's SITE area after its administrator, who has been placed on the Fourth Schedule, was found absent, according to a police document available with Dawn.

The SITE station house officer, along with Assistant Commissioner (AC) West Dr Ghulam Muhammad and police mobiles, visited the seminary after the AC West approached the police station in connection with the sealing of Madressah Al-Kareem Islamic Academy in SITE area, read the document.

"The AC West asked about the presence of Mufti Shakirullah, the seminary mohtamim (administrator), but he was not present there," it said.

Mufti Shakirullah ─ who police suspect of funding the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ─ has been placed on the Fourth Schedule.

According to Section 11EE of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997, the Fourth Schedule is to include “any person who is an activist, office-bearer or an associate of an organisation kept under observation … or proscribed … or … affiliated with any group or organisation suspected to be involved in terrorism or sectarianism”.

Being on the Fourth Schedule means the person is kept under observation and must register his attendance with local police regularly.

"As per source report, Mufti Shakirullah is funding TTP and he is also on Fourth Schedule 11 EEE and he is absent," said the document.

The seminary was then sealed by the AC West, who was assisted by police.

Last month, the Sindh police had decided to review the list under the Fourth Schedule after every three months in order to strengthen proactive policing against extremism, ensure stronger surveillance of the suspects placed on the list and for better coordinated intelligence at the police-station level across the province.

Opinion

Editorial

Rigging claims
Updated 04 May, 2024

Rigging claims

The PTI’s allegations are not new; most elections in Pakistan have been controversial, and it is almost a given that results will be challenged by the losing side.
Gaza’s wasteland
04 May, 2024

Gaza’s wasteland

SINCE the start of hostilities on Oct 7, Israel has put in ceaseless efforts to depopulate Gaza, and make the Strip...
Housing scams
04 May, 2024

Housing scams

THE story of illegal housing schemes in Punjab is the story of greed, corruption and plunder. Major players in these...
Under siege
Updated 03 May, 2024

Under siege

Whether through direct censorship, withholding advertising, harassment or violence, the press in Pakistan navigates a hazardous terrain.
Meddlesome ways
03 May, 2024

Meddlesome ways

AFTER this week’s proceedings in the so-called ‘meddling case’, it appears that the majority of judges...
Mass transit mess
03 May, 2024

Mass transit mess

THAT Karachi — one of the world’s largest megacities — does not have a mass transit system worth the name is ...