RAWALPINDI: The Punjab government has directed the police to launch a province-wide crackdown against the distribution of provocative, sectarian pamphlets and posters.

This comes after intelligence reports suggested the banned group, Lashkar-e-Jhanvi (LeJ), had threatened a prominent Shia leader not to hold the Majlis-i-Aza at a Darbar in Multan during the upcoming month of Muharram. A security source has confirmed the threat was made through a letter.

The government has already taken a strict stance on the collection of animal hides over Eidul Azha. A senior police officer at the Counter Terrorism Department said operations were in place to check up on banned groups and see if they were raising funds or planning to set up camps for collecting animal hides.

He said: “Any individual associated with banned organisations or placed on schedule four of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) will not be allowed to establish camp to collect animal hides or to raise funds.” He added that security agencies were also watching individuals previously associated with banned outfits or placed on the 4th Schedule.

According to a security source, the Punjab Home Department, after gathering intelligence reports from Faisalabad, Rahimyar Khan, Multan and D.G. Khan, has found some individuals ignoring the government ban on distribution of pamphlets and posters regarding the collection of animal hides.

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2015

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