RAWALPINDI: The Punjab government has directed the police across the province to launch a crackdown on hate speech and fund raising by proscribed organisations and arrest those involved in such illegal activities.

Sources said some people were found collecting donations on Friday last but they were not doing so openly.

When contacted, City Police Officer (CPO) Mohammad Faisal Rana told Dawn that police had been looking for people collecting donations since Friday as there were intelligence reports that some people were involved in such activities secretly.

“No individual will be allowed to collect donations as police have planned to arrest anyone found involved in such an activity,” said the CPO, adding, however, that no case of hate speech was reported from any part of the Rawalpindi district on Friday.

Anyone found collecting donations will be arrested, CPO says

According to sources, the provincial authorities have directed the police to arrest any suspect found involved in hate speech and fund raising.

The police have also been directed to send reports to the provincial authorities if any arrest was made in their jurisdictions.

The police should give details, including name of the proscribed organisation, persons arrested for their involvement in hate speech or fund raising.

The inspector general of police (IGP) has sought a certificate from the city police and district police officers in case they were unable to make any arrest regarding hate speeches and fund collection by banned organisations.

Under the National Action Plan (NAP), the federal government has already imposed a ban on fund raising by proscribed organisations and hate speeches and directed the law enforcement agencies to arrest such individuals.

Separately, the police arrested 36 people in the district for not providing details of their tenants to the police under NAP.

The arrests were made in Waris Khan, Taxila, Murree, Gujar Khan and Saddar Berooni police areas.

The police said people come to Rawalpindi from different areas and get a house on rent or stay in hotels and hostels but do not provide their particulars to the police.

Under NAP, police are empowered to arrest owners of a house or any other building being used for rent if they failed to register their tenants with the police.

Under the law, owners of hotels and inns are also bound to submit lists of their guests to the police within three hours after their arrival. The owners of houses should inform the police about their tenants within 48 hours of renting out the premises.

Due to lack of coordination between intelligence and law enforcement agencies, many citizens face trouble as no awareness campaigns have been launched through the media about the new rule.

A senior police official said there was a need to launch a campaign to educate people either by elected representatives or though banners and media about it.

Published in Dawn, May 20th, 2019