RAWALPINDI: As many as 99 activists of the outlawed Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) arrested in Rawalpindi and Islamabad were released from Adiala jail on Tuesday, two days after the government and the banned outfit reached an agreement.

A police official said those detained under section 16 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) were released but workers against whom first information reports (FIRs) had been registered would have to obtain bail from courts.

He said there were seven TLP arrested activists against whom FIRs had been registered previously. However, no FIR was registered during the recent crackdown against any TLP activist in Rawalpindi.

Earlier, the capital administration issued the release orders of 41 TLP workers.

Officials of the administration said separate orders were issued from the office of the deputy commissioner withdrawing the detention orders.

The capital police had arrested dozens of people over their alleged affiliation with the banned outfit after the latter announced a march towards the capital from Lahore.

Details of the 41 arrested people were sent to the capital administration and in response the DC office.

Out of the total, 16 were arrested on October 21, nine on Oct 22, 11 on Oct 28, two on Oct 29 and three on Oct 31.

Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2021