ISLAMABAD: Fearing action in wake of the arrest of Irfan Siddiqui, an aide to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, more than 500 residents of the capital have visited various police stations to register themselves as tenants in the last four days.

Senior officers of the capital administration and police told Dawn on condition of anonymity that more than 500 people, residing as individuals and families in the capital, have gotten themselves registered as tenants with the police since Saturday.

The registration of tenants was mostly carried out at police stations in urban areas of the capital, they said, adding that those who registered themselves included foreigners.

Sources say capital residents fear action following Irfan Siddiqui incident

The sources said that more people are expected to register themselves in the next few days, as residents are still visiting police stations in this regard.

Officials said the police had visited the homes of these residents earlier to collect their details, but the majority of them refused while others sought some time.

They said it was the arrest of high-profile individuals in connection with the same matter that ‘forced’ these residents to register themselves immediately to avoid action.

The officers stated that last week the police took action against 50 people on directives from the capital administration for violating section 144 of CrPC, as the district magistrate has obligated landlords and tenants to submit their details before their local police.

They claimed that no one took notice because they were all ordinary residents, while Mr Siddiqui’s arrest and subsequent release became the talk of the town because he has a high profile.

A senior officer of the capital administration said that the directive and permission to register the case and arrest Mr Siddiqui was given to the police by an officer of the administration. He added that permission and directives of a magistrate were required to take such an action against violators of section 144.

However, he admitted that the police acted aggressively and there was no need to raid his house with scores of policemen in eight vehicles. There was also no need to handcuff him as he is over 60 years old, he said, adding that hardened criminals from whom physical resistance is expected are handcuffed.

People arrested for section 144 violations are typically asked to submit a Rs20,000 surety bond and an affidavit, the officer said. A magistrate or station house officer records the affidavit that the individual will not carry out such a violation in the future.

After the submission of the bond and affidavit, the violator is released, the officer stated. However, he said that Mr Siddiqui’s case, he was sent to jail on judicial remand in an “unusual” manner.

Officers said around 70pc of Islamabad is rural, and the rest is urban. The rural population has risen sharply, in areas such as Bhara Kahu, Golra, Tarnol and southern parts of the city. Residents typically rent homes, but some have also bought their own properties in rural areas, they said.

A large number of Islamabad residents are tenants.

They said that landlords in urban areas prefer to rent their properties for one to three years, as they are always looking to increase rents. Because tenants change quickly, they said, it is difficult for police to keep an eye on them.

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2019