Law-enforcement agencies have picked up around two dozen people on suspicion of their involvement in sectarian militancy in a drive started last week in the province, especially southern Punjab, it was learnt on Sunday. Multan, Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalpur, Layyah, Bhakkar, Faisalabad and Jhang have been included in the districts. The drive has been launched in view of three terrorist activities in Sialkot, Multan and Lahore. Besides police and intelligence agencies, Crimes Investigation Department (CID) is also taking part in the campaign. Neither any arrest has been registered nor are families being allowed meeting with them. Three suspects, including an office-bearer of the outlawed Sipah-e-Mohammad, have been detained in raids in various localities of Faisalabad. Punjab police sources said that the raids in Faisalabad were carried out to arrest Amjad Shah, a resident of Bhakkar. However, he had left the place when the police raided. A heavy police contingent also raided his Bhakkar house and arrested five members of his family, including his father and father-in-law. His father-in-law and one cousin have been set free after questioning, but the others will remain in the custody of the law enforcers without any lawful justification for well over a week, they said.
As many as 10 people have been detained in Multan and Bahawalpur. The police in these districts have been asked by the law enforcement agencies to pay more attention to underground activities of sectarian suspects. Meanwhile, the Punjab police have been directed to make efforts to arrest all sectarian proclaimed offenders and court absconders.