ISLAMABAD: The capital police approached the District Intelligence Committee (DIC) to include a dozen more persons in the Fourth Schedule list of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) over their alleged involvement in sectarianism.

Officers of the capital police said that sectarianism was the root cause of terrorism and one of the main reasons for it existing in the country. Due to the prevailing situation, there is a dire need to watch those who are involved in sectarianism to avoid the possibility of terror incidents, they added.

Recently, the capital police requested the District Intelligence and Security Committee to include a dozen more people in the list of Fourth Schedule of ATA and a response in this regard was still awaited, they said, adding that they were from different schools of thought.

The request was made after their involvement in incidents of sectarianism was observed, the officers said, adding that separate reports over their involvement in sectarianism were also submitted.

The DIC seems unsatisfied with the reports and as a result the process has been put on halt, they said.

Currently, the Fourth Schedule list has 30 names and of them, 28 are involved in sectarianism and two are land grabbers, they said, adding that in 2019, 22 people were included in the list over their involvement in land grabbing, but gradually only two remained as the rest were removed after they obtained orders from the court in their favour.

Police say suspects involved in sectarianism, belonged to various schools of thought

Two more persons, included in the list over their involvement in sectarianism, also obtained orders from the court in their favour. Police and District Intelligence and Security Committee decided to approach the court and file an appeal against the court’s order.

There is a procedure to remove the name from the list of Fourth Schedule, the officers said, adding that all intelligence agencies, including Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Special Branch check and review the status of the individual who intends for his or her name to be removed from the list.

Besides this, an affidavit for good behaviour and parting from sectarianism is also obtained, they said, adding that such a person remains under surveillance for a year before the name is removed from the list.

Surveillance of the 28 persons involved in sectarianism has been further tightened, the officers said, adding that out of the 28, 27 people are following legal procedure, including regularly informing the area police about their movements, and appearing in their area police stations.

Only one is violating the terms and legal procedure of the Fourth Schedule list, they added.

Police Public Relations Officer Taqi Javad said he would get a comment from the deputy inspector general of police (Operation), but never replied.

PRO for the capital administration M. Abdullah Tabassum refused to comment about the matter.

DIG Operations Sohail Zafar Chattha and Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon were not available for their comments when contacted.

Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2023