RAWALPINDI, Jan 12: The Punjab police have recalled four cops, holding extreme religious views, from their active duty and asked them to report to their respective district headquarters, Dawn has learnt.

The sources said the names of the police officials were obtained by the joint investigation team comprising officials of Islamabad police and intelligence agencies from Malik Mumtaz Qadri, the assassin of the Punjab Governor Salman Taseer.

Later, the names were intimated to the Punjab Inspector General of police by his counterpart in Islamabad through a letter on January 7, three days after the gruesome murder of the Punjab governor.

The four police officials included Shakeel Qadri, one of the cousins of Malik Mumtaz Qadri, presently posted with Elite Force, Rawalpindi.

The remaining three constables were, Shaheen Sabir of Punjab Constabulary, presently part of the Punjab chief minister's squad, Taimoor and Naseer, constables of the Elite Force, Rawalpindi.

The sources said the Punjab IG, responding quickly to the letter, directed the Rawalpindi Regional Police Officer Mukhtar Ahmed Gondal to recall the four police officials from their present postings and ask them to report to their respective headquarters.

In his letter, the Islamabad IG asked his counterpart to hand over the police officials to the ICT police as they were required by the team investigating the murder case.

The IGP Islamabad said in his letter that Mumtaz Qadri, the murderer of Governor Taseer, during interrogation revealed that the four police officials held “extreme religious views” and could strike any time.

RPO Hamid Mukhtar, when contacted, confirmed that he had got the intimation about the four constables having extreme religious views and they were immediately withdrawn from their duties and directed to report to their respective headquarters.

Responding to a question, he said the screening of the Elite Force and other police officials performing duty with VIPs and VVIPs had been started and would take time to complete.

Governor Salman Taseer was gunned down by one of his security guards during his private visit to Islamabad. He along with his friend Waqas Khan was walking towards his F-6/3 residence when one of his security guards associated with Elite Force opened fire on him killing him on the spot. Shortly after the incident the killer was overpowered by other security guards and handed over to the police.