ISLAMABAD: Leaders and activists of banned militant groups and persons appearing on the Schedule 4 list of the Anti-Terrorist Act in the city face being detained by the police in the next 24 hours, sources told Dawn.

Official sources said the decision to detain them was part of security measures being taken for the two-day visit of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to Islamabad beginning on Friday.

Orders have gone out from the Central Police Office to all police establishments in the city to be alert in view of the prevailing situation in the country and possible threats to the visiting dignitary, the sources said.

The SSP Operation has been directed to take preventive action against the 39 people on the watch list, especially the 28 Ulema (religious leaders) among them, and check on them.

“They (people on the list) will either be confined to their houses or moved out of the city under 3 MPO (Maintenance of Public Order),” said the sources.

Police have orders to raid the houses of those affiliated with banned outfits and arrest them, and also keep a close watch on all those police had interrogated or arrested in cases of terrorism and are residing in Islamabad.

“These actions should be completed by Thursday night. Make sure that each one of them is either in custody, out of the city or under strict surveillance before the deadline,” the sources quoted the orders as saying.

“There is no specific threat. It is a routine practice that precedes the visit of dignitaries,” a senior police officer told Dawn, confirming that the orders were being actively carried out.

However, the officer who spoke on the condition of anonymity agreed that although part of the Standard Operational Procedures, such massive steps had not been seen in the past. This time the SOP “precautionary measures are being followed in letter and spirit”, he added.

State-run hospitals and rescue departments also have been directed to act according to the SOP. The CDA was asked to chop the bushes in selected areas and ensure functioning streetlights at places identified by the police.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2014