RAWALPINDI: Since the names of Imtiaz Ali Khokhar alias Taji Khokhar and his son Farrukh Imtiaz Khokhar have already been placed on the fourth schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) 1997 by the Islamabad district administration, the Rawalpindi police have been asked to closely monitor their activities during their movement/stay in their jurisdiction.

“Due to their involvement in heinous crimes and illegal activities including land grabbing and enjoying bad reputation, their names have been placed on the fourth schedule on Nov 14, 2018,” Regional Police Officer (RPO) Fayyaz Ahmed Dev said in his directive issued to City Police Officer (CPO) Abbas Ahsan.

He said as the Islamabad administration had already included the names of Taji Khokhar and his son in the fourth schedule, they can’t be included again in the watch list anywhere else.

However, the CPO was directed to closely monitor their activities, movement and stay in Rawalpindi.

The RPO also informed the Ministry of Interior that since the names of Taji Khokhar and his son Farrukh Imtiaz Khokhar had been placed on 4th schedule, their names can’t be included again in the list in any other district.

The Khokhars, both residents of Gangal in Islamabad, and others were booked by the police in the murder case of Sabira Bibi, wife of Raja Mohammad Yaqoob by the Airport police on Aug 17, 2012.

Both the accused were arrested by the police and later sent to jail while the others were declared proclaimed offenders.

After trial of the case, the court awarded death sentence to one of the accused, Irfan alias Nikku, and life imprisonment to three others - Anwarul Haq, Ramzan and Waheed.

The other 20 accused, including Taji Khokhar, DSP Tariq Mehboob, Inspector AFzaal Shah, Inspector Aziz Aslam, Sub-inspector Asmat and constables Arshad, Ishtiaq, Imran and Shahzad were acquitted.

The RPO said the husband of the murdered woman had filed four appeals against the judgment of the trial court in Lahore High Court (LHC)’s Rawalpindi bench which were pending adjudication as no date has been fixed for their hearing so far.

He said the police department had also sent a request to the prosecution branch for filing an appeal against the judgment.

According to the ATA, any individual declared as a fourth scheduler is bound to provide surety bond to the concerned police for good behaviour and peaceful conduct after release from jail.

And such individuals are also bound to inform the respective police before leaving their hometowns and upon return.

A senior police official said activities of all individuals placed on the watch list were monitored regularly by the police and their presence at their home addresses was also checked.

More than 220 suspected militants having links with banned outfits have been placed on the fourth schedule in Rawalpindi division.

Published in Dawn, December 22nd, 2018