KOHAT, April 21: Four leaders belonging to the banned Sipah-i-Sahaba organization were booked for making objectionable speeches at Kotwali mosque under 16 Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance and Anti-Terrorist Act on the instructions of the provincial home department on Thursday.

The city police arrested one of the accused namely Farooq whereas raids were being conducted for the arrest of the district secretary-general Fayyaz Haidri, Haider Wakil and Maulana Ali Muawiya, resident of Sindh.

The accused had termed the shias non-Muslims and asked them to observe chehlum and Ashura inside their homes and imambargahs as the sunnis offered prayers inside the mosques. They also said that the exact date of birth of The Holy Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) is 9th of Rabiul Awal and not 12th Rabiul Awal of the Islamic calendar.

The FIR was registered by the district government under section 16 of maintenance of public order read with 7-11 EE (4), ATA, Station House Officer, Mir Chamman informed.