High security month: Punjab police unable to keep an eye on suspects

Thirty-nine other extremists from banned militant outfits disappear.

LAHORE:

While the law takes its time to prosecute 725 terror suspects for violating the conditions placed on their freedom out of the 2,080 of the most dangerous criminals whose names appear in the Anti Terrorism Act, 39 other extremists from banned militant outfits have disappeared.

According to a report released on the eve of Muharram by the Punjab home department, it is necessary to monitor all terror suspects and ask them to submit surety bonds before Muharram to avert any untoward incident in Punjab.

Despite the usual recommendations, however, there are delays in initiating action against violators and disappearance of suspects involved in terrorist and sectarian violence is routine.

According to a list prepared by the Punjab government, 916 of 2080 suspects are Afghan-trained boys, 230 are returnee Afghan prisoners (RAPs), 31 are from Lal Masjid, 825 belong to Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, eight belong to Hizb-e-Tehreek and 66 belong to Jaish-e-Muhammad.

An earlier report had revealed that 55 out of 2151 terror suspects, whose names were placed in the fourth schedule of the ATC were missing from their hideouts and were likely to be involved in terrorism, 20 had fled abroad, while 724 extremists whose names were in the fourth schedule had not deposited surety bonds.

The home department and inspector general police, Punjab have directed the police and other law enforcement agencies to maintain a record of suspects whose names appear in the fourth schedule, especially when they leave their respective city and the limits of the local police station. The authorities have directed the police to register cases against extremists who have gone missing under the ATA.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 27^th, 2011.