LAHORE, Jan 16: The police on Wednesday denied reports that the commander of a banned religious outfit is operating a terrorist ring from a prison in Punjab.

An earlier report, quoting intelligence by one of the official agencies, said the remnants of a banned outfit, Lashkar-i-Jhangvi, had regrouped under the command of a Multan Jail prisoner to carry out terrorist attacks in the province.

The agency was said to have requested an inquiry into the matter by the Punjab Home Department.

The intelligence message spoke of links between the members of this banned outfit and jihadi elements which had roots in tribal areas. The activists were said to be mainly based in Bahawalnagar, Dera Ghazi Khan, Jhang and Bhakkar.

An official source told Dawn the intelligence revealed that the members of the group could target two politicians from Jhang. The police had provided security to both politicians and had heightened security at places of worship in southern Punjab, reportedly on the basis of this intelligence.

The same group was said to be involved in a failed attempt on the life of former minister Ijazul Haq in Bahawalnagar and in an attack on policemen in Multan.

Punjab IG Prisons Sarfraz Ahmed Mufti told Dawn that the department had conducted an inquiry on the information and found that it was not possible for a prisoner to operate from inside the Multan Jail, adding that the LJ man was being kept in an isolated cell under strict vigilance.