Of arrests and convictions
Under the Action against Unauthorised Sale of Army/Police Uniform, police arrested nine suspects
PHOTO: REUTERS
LAHORE:
Lahore police have had a watershed year in terms of action against terrorism suspects. The breakup of suspects arrested and charged with various offences is as follows:
Agenda number 5 of the National Action Plan prohibits hate speech. Lahore police say they have registered 107 cases under Section 295 and 298-C of the Pakistan Penal Code (offenses pertaining to religion) and 11-W of the Anti-Terrorism Act (printing, publishing, or disseminating material to incite hatred) between January 1, 2015, and December 06, 2015. Police have arrested 57 suspects on these charges and submitted challans against four of them. None of them has been convicted.
On December 14, 2015, Lahore police registered a case against two traders for displaying a banner in front of their shop that carried hateful comments against Ahmedis. Police arrested one of the suspects and produced him before court but he was released after being granted bail.
Scores of traders in Hafeez Centre held a demonstration to protest against the arrest and displayed several banners carrying hateful remarks against Ahmedis in several places at Hafeez Centre. These banners have not been removed.
Agenda 9 of NAP calls for the protection of minorities. The terrorist attacks on churches in Yohanabad on March 15 and the subsequent lynching and of two citizens by a violent mob speak of the police’s failure on this count.
The Lahore police claimed to have conducted 45 general hold-ups in implementing the National Action Plan between December 17, 2014, and December 06, 2015. During these hold-ups, police arrested 21 suspects and impounded 8,120 vehicles – 45 of them did not have number-plates, 49 had unauthorised number-plates and 37 had tinted glasses.
The police registered 270 cases against people who carried weapons in public illegally. Of these, 25 people had licensed weapons. The police registered 245 cases under Section 13/20/65 (carrying unlicensed weapons).
Under The Punjab Sound System (Regulation) Ordinance, 2015, Lahore police registered 912 cases between January 1 and December 12, 2015. They arrested 1,238 people for violating the Act and submitted challans against 881 suspects. Of those, 205 were convicted, 25 were acquitted and 651 cases are pending in courts.
Under The Punjab Prohibition of Expressing Matters on Walls (Amendment) Ordinance, 1995, police registered 39 cases and arrested 28 people. Police submitted challans against 30 suspects. Only two cases were decided and one suspect was convicted, while 28 cases are still pending in courts.
Under The Punjab Information of Temporary Residents Ordinance, 2015, police arrested 5,877 people and registered 3,875 cases between January 8 and December 6, 2015. Police submitted challans against 2,507 suspects. Of which, 526 cases were decided – 460 were convicted and 66 were acquitted. 1,981 cases are still pending in courts.
Under the Action against Unauthorised Sale of Army/Police Uniform, police arrested nine suspects. They confiscated 72 items and sealed 17 shops and stores.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 2nd, 2016.
Lahore police have had a watershed year in terms of action against terrorism suspects. The breakup of suspects arrested and charged with various offences is as follows:
Agenda number 5 of the National Action Plan prohibits hate speech. Lahore police say they have registered 107 cases under Section 295 and 298-C of the Pakistan Penal Code (offenses pertaining to religion) and 11-W of the Anti-Terrorism Act (printing, publishing, or disseminating material to incite hatred) between January 1, 2015, and December 06, 2015. Police have arrested 57 suspects on these charges and submitted challans against four of them. None of them has been convicted.
On December 14, 2015, Lahore police registered a case against two traders for displaying a banner in front of their shop that carried hateful comments against Ahmedis. Police arrested one of the suspects and produced him before court but he was released after being granted bail.
Scores of traders in Hafeez Centre held a demonstration to protest against the arrest and displayed several banners carrying hateful remarks against Ahmedis in several places at Hafeez Centre. These banners have not been removed.
Agenda 9 of NAP calls for the protection of minorities. The terrorist attacks on churches in Yohanabad on March 15 and the subsequent lynching and of two citizens by a violent mob speak of the police’s failure on this count.
The Lahore police claimed to have conducted 45 general hold-ups in implementing the National Action Plan between December 17, 2014, and December 06, 2015. During these hold-ups, police arrested 21 suspects and impounded 8,120 vehicles – 45 of them did not have number-plates, 49 had unauthorised number-plates and 37 had tinted glasses.
The police registered 270 cases against people who carried weapons in public illegally. Of these, 25 people had licensed weapons. The police registered 245 cases under Section 13/20/65 (carrying unlicensed weapons).
Under The Punjab Sound System (Regulation) Ordinance, 2015, Lahore police registered 912 cases between January 1 and December 12, 2015. They arrested 1,238 people for violating the Act and submitted challans against 881 suspects. Of those, 205 were convicted, 25 were acquitted and 651 cases are pending in courts.
Under The Punjab Prohibition of Expressing Matters on Walls (Amendment) Ordinance, 1995, police registered 39 cases and arrested 28 people. Police submitted challans against 30 suspects. Only two cases were decided and one suspect was convicted, while 28 cases are still pending in courts.
Under The Punjab Information of Temporary Residents Ordinance, 2015, police arrested 5,877 people and registered 3,875 cases between January 8 and December 6, 2015. Police submitted challans against 2,507 suspects. Of which, 526 cases were decided – 460 were convicted and 66 were acquitted. 1,981 cases are still pending in courts.
Under the Action against Unauthorised Sale of Army/Police Uniform, police arrested nine suspects. They confiscated 72 items and sealed 17 shops and stores.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 2nd, 2016.