ISLAMABAD, Dec 1: The Kohsar police registered a case against the activists of a banned outfit for holding a protest demonstration and distributing pamphlets among the people against the government and the army, the police said on Saturday.

The outlawed Hizbut Tahrir’s activists had staged the protest and distributed pamphlets on November 11, but the case was registered after 19 days. However, no arrest has been made.

Sub-Inspector Saleem Shah in his complaint to the police stated that Khalid Mehmood, Taimur Khalid, Syed Khalid, Waqar Ahmed, Junaid Aslam, Aqil Arshad, Usman Nazir, Omar Farooq and 16 unidentified activists of the outlawed Hizbut Tahrir gathered at F-6 Markaz and chanted slogans against the government and the army. They also distributed pamphlets among the people against the army.

The case was registered under the charges of criminal conspiracy, condemnation of the creation of the state and advocacy of abolition of its sovereignty, sedition and abetting mutiny.

The nominated people were also charged under 16 MPO (Maintenance of Public Order).

A police officer on the condition of anonymity said the case was registered on the direction of an intelligence agency.

It may be noted that on November 26, pamphlets against the army and its chief were also spotted pasted by the banned outfit in and around F-8 Markaz. In response, a case under the anti-terrorism act was registered with the Margalla police against the activists.

Another police officer said HuT’s protest was unusual as normally it did not carry out such an activity in a city.

On November 28, two activists of the HuT, identified as Malik Zahid and Malik Shahid, were arrested while pasting pamphlets and hanging banners at Chandni Chowk in Rawalpindi.

When contacted, Sarfaraz Mughal, the president of F-6 traders union, said pamphlets against the government and the army were spotted pasted on electric poles in and around Super Market. Some of the pamphlets are still there, he added.

Mohammad Younus, the investigation officer of the case, said the delay in registration of the case was caused as the police were gathering the needed information to proceed against the accused. He said the police were trying to trace the activists.