RAWALPINDI: As many as 218 people, including 69 members of the banned Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), have been placed on the fourth schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 in the Rawalpindi division by the Punjab home department.

According to sources, besides the 69, the names of 39 activists of the TLP have been sent to the Punjab home department to place them on the watch list bringing the number of the banned organisation’s activists in the list in the Rawalpindi region to 108.

Of the 39 individuals, 10 belong to Attock, 14 to Jhelum and 15 to Chakwal. No one has, however, been proposed to be placed on the fourth schedule from the Rawalpindi district.

When contacted, Regional Police Officer (RPO) Rawalpindi Imran Ahmar confirmed the placement of TLP activists on the fourth schedule, adding the police had followed all the legal procedures to include them in the list.

Of the 218 individuals, who were involved in harmful activities and placed on the fourth schedule, 92 were from the Rawalpindi district, 68 from Attock, 14 from Jhelum and 44 from Chakwal.

As many as 39 of the 69 activists of the TLP were from the Rawalpindi district, 30 from Attock and none from Chakwal and Jhelum.

An individual suspected of having links with a proscribed organisation is put on the fourth schedule under the ATA 1997. Their names are afterwards referred to the concerned police and law enforcement agencies for effective monitoring and surveillance.

According to sources, out of the 39 TLP activists placed on the watch list in Rawalpindi, 17 have been missing from their homes as they had left their residences without intimating the concerned police. Of the 17 missing TLP activists, the police were able to get surety bonds from only one.

According to the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997, anyone whose name is placed on the fourth schedule is bound to inform the police before leaving their permanent residence and upon return. An individual placed on the watch list can’t leave the country as their name is also put on the Exit Control List.

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2021