RAWALPINDI: Another 18 people have been placed on the fourth schedule of Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 in the Rawalpindi district, taking the tally of those on the watch list to 43.

Although one of the fourth schedulers died last month, his name has not been removed from the watch list.

The individuals placed on the fourth schedule of ATA 1997 are being closely monitored by the police and intelligence due to their possible links with proscribed organisations or involvement in harmful activities.

Of the 18 individuals, four belonged to Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), one each belonged to banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and so-called Islamic State, five belonged to Tehreek-i-Jafaria Pakistan (TJP) while seven others were associated with proscribed Ahl-i-Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ).

Of the fresh fourth schedulers, five are residents of Taxila, the others are from Gujar Khan, Wah Cantt and one from the Waris Khan area.

Any individual about whom either there is credible intelligence or information or who has a history of being linked to a proscribed organisation can be placed on the fourth schedule under ATA 1997, and their names are referred to police and law enforcement agencies.

Name of a suspect is usually placed on the watch list for a period of three years, which can be extended, if recommended by the intelligence or police.

The fourth scheduleers in Rawalpindi district included Imtiaz Ali Khokhar alias Taji Khokhar and his son.

Taji Khokhar died but his name had not been removed from the watch list.

Under the ATA 1997, every person whose name had been placed on the fourth schedule is bound to inform the police before leaving his permanent residence and upon his return.

In addition, such individuals are also bound to submit a surety bond to their police station concerned guaranteeing his peaceful conduct, otherwise, he is supposed to be booked by the local police under the relevant section of the ATA.

A senior police official said that there has been no standard operating procedure (SOP) for placing the name of every individual who had been arrested by the police under ATA on the fourth schedulers’ list.

He said that the divisional intelligence committee (DIC) decides whether to place a suspect’s name on the watch list depending upon the nature of his case and his background.

Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2021