ISLAMABAD, Jan 12: President of local chapter of Tehrik Minhajul Quran’s (TMQ) and a few workers were booked by Margalla police for installing a camp in Sector G-9 without getting No-Objection Certificate (NOC)  from the authorities concerned, police said on Saturday.

However, no arrest has been made till the filing of this report.

The camp was set up last week but it caught the eye of the police only recently. The camp was playing speeches and sermons of Dr Mohammad Tahirul Qadri to attract the people to the long march. The case was registered under PPC 188, which deals with the violation of Section 144, against the president of TMQ Islamabad advocate Mohammad Abrar Raza and others.

A police officer of Margalla police station on condition of anonymity said: “We have been directed by our seniors to only register a case, and avoid any confrontation with the organisers and the activists of the TMQ,” he added.

They fear that any confrontation with the organisers of the camp and activist may provoke them, he added.

They even did not uproot the camp and seize the stuff and material available there, he said, adding  TMQ’s activities were still on at the camp.

TMQ Islamabad president was not available for his comments, as his mobile was found switched off.

TMQ’s Coordinator Islamabad Raja Sajjad showed ignorance about the registration of the case against the president.

Meanwhile, the local administration and law enforcement agencies in Taxila have started collecting data of Tehrik-i-Minhajul Quran (TMQ) activists as a prelude to a possible crackdown on them before the January 14 long march.

Reliable sources said the agencies and local police had kept an eye on the activities of diehard supporters of the TMQ who are active in making arrangements for the long march.

The sources said that the TMQ office-bearers and workers had already gone underground in Hassanabdal to avert any crackdown.

To avoid arrest, the TMQ women wing too has not launched any door to door campaign to motivate womenfolk for participation in the long march.

According to sources, the local administration and law enforcement agencies have finalised lists of the workers and are waiting for the green signal from provincial home department to detain them under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance 16 (MPO 16).

When contacted, Saiful Islam, the TMQ Taxila chapter president, said that Punjab government was collecting their data, including source of income and other family details. He said that  the administration had already confiscated driver’s license and route permits of the bus drivers who were booked to carry the marchers to Islamabad.

Mr Islam said that party workers would actively participate in the long march.