RAWALPINDI: After finding flaws in the ‘history sheets’ (record of criminal history) of those placed on the fourth schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATC) 1997, the city police officer has warned officials concerned that they would face departmental punishment if the standard operating procedure (SOP) for the fourth schedulers was not followed.

The slackness of the police came to light when City Police Officer Mohammad Faisal Rana inspected the history sheets of all individuals placed on the fourth schedule and found that they were not being kept under surveillance by most of the police stations.

In most of the police stations, the history sheets of “Afghan-trained boys, tribal areas-trained boys” and others were not prepared by the police.

CPO warns officials of departmental punishment if standard operating procedure for those on watch list is not followed

Even the foot constables lacked knowledge about the record of the individuals having criminal history.

The history sheets of fourth schedulers, which had been prepared by police, did not have opinions of the SHO or the senior officer concerned.

After examining the history sheets, the CPO observed that there was neither proper surveillance of the fourth schedulers nor any report about them in the history sheets.

Under section IV of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997, any individual placed on the fourth schedule or watch list has to inform the respective police before leaving his hometown and upon return and about his activities in other places.

Such individuals are also bound to provide surety bonds to the concerned police for good behaviour and peaceful conduct after release from jail.

The individuals placed on the fourth schedule are not supposed to visit government buildings, offices or educational institutions and they cannot get employment.

In case of a violation, the police are to take legal action against them under the relevant law.

In a latest move, Superintendent of Police Potohar Division Syed Ali has been seeking orders from court to force five fourth schedulers living in the limits of Airport police to visit the police station concerned twice in a week for one year to ensure their presence at their respective permanent residences.

The police suspect that they are habitual criminals and could create law and order situation.

In the Rawalpindi district, the number of individuals placed on the fourth schedule has increased to 38 with the recent addition of five people in the list for having links with proscribed organisations.

Published in Dawn, June 22nd, 2019