ISLAMABAD: The capital police have started collecting details about local leaders and activists of the proscribed Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) to put their names in the fourth schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), sources told Dawn.

Besides, the capital administration also started collecting details about the banned outfit’s property.

Senior police officers told Dawn that after the politico-religious party was described as a proscribed organisation, the police started identifying and tracing its local leaders and activists.

The leaders and active workers are likely to be put in the list of fourth schedule of the ATA.

In this regard, different wings of the police, including CIA, CTD and Special Branch, are working on it, they said, adding the police were identifying and tracing them with the help of different social media platforms.

Besides, over 110 leaders and activists of TLP picked during the last three days were being interrogated, they said. The investigators are seeking the details of their colleagues and those with whom they were in contact.

The police are making a list carrying the names, addresses and other details of these people. The list is being shared with CTD, Special Branch and CIA to verify it.

After completion, it will be sent to the chief commissioner office to include the names in the fourth schedule.

The capital administration is also checking the revenue, excise and taxation records, besides getting assistance from the police to identify and trace the properties of the TLP in capital, if any. All properties of TLP in the capital will be confiscated when the list is finalised.

Four more cases were registered against TLP leaders and activists in different police stations.

When contacted, Inspector General of Police Qazi Jamilur Rehman said the TLP staged protests at four to five places in the capital during which they illegally detained some policemen. However, the policemen were released from their custody after operations.

During the protests, they also beat and injured six policemen, the IGP said, adding police arrested the protesters and efforts were in progress to arrest the rest.

Replying to a question, he said if the TLP workers and leaders fulfill the fourth schedule requirement their names would be placed in the list. The Fourth Schedule is a list of proscribed individuals who are suspected of terrorism and/or sectarianism under Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997.

165 workers sent to jail

As many as 165 leaders and activists of the proscribed TLP arrested during an operation in Rawalpindi were shifted to Adiala jail. More than 1,350 workers and activists were booked by the Rawalpindi police under murder, terrorism and other charges.

Of the 165 TLP workers and activists, 83 were detained in the jail under 3MPO. Similarly, 82 were detained under various other charges.

Three cases were registered against participants of a sit-in in three police stations in Rawalpindi. More than 100 leaders and activists have been nominated.

Sub-inspector Mohammad Saleem claimed in the FIR registered with the Waris Khan police that the TLP workers and activists led by its local leader clashed with police and opened gunfire which claimed the life of their own activist, Zaheer Abbas.

Police have booked more than 1,394 activists and workers of TLP in three FIRs. However, over 290 people were nominated in the FIRs.

Published in Dawn, April 16th, 2021