90 operatives of banned groups arrested in Pak's Punjab

Pakistani authorities have arrested 90 operatives of banned religious and militant groups, including the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), during a crackdown on the Punjabi Taliban and its allies in the southern part of Punjab province.Punjab police chief Tariq Saleem Dogar said that an operation has been launched against "suspected elements of proscribed organisations."The banned groups targeted in the crackdown include LeT, JeM, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and Sipah-e-Sahaba."We have detained dozens of people of such organisations (who were) involved in several cases of sectarian violence and whose names were included in the fourth schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act," Dogar said."We are also focusing on the arrest and surveillance of people listed in categories like Afghan-Trained Boys, Returned Afghan Prisoners and Lal Masjid elements," he said.The arrests were made in the districts of Multan, Khanewal, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Vehari, Bhakkar, Buraywala, Sialkot, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Rahim Yar Khan, Jehlum, Koshab, Chakwal and Narowal.Among the 90 activists of the different banned groups held, at least 20 were captured in Multan while 19 were arrested in Lahore.Punjab police spokesperson DIG Naeem Brokha said raids would continue in the days to come."The raids have compelled the activists of proscribed organisations to go under-ground," he said.Reports said the arrested activists were being held under the provisions of the maintenance of public order law.Punjab Police have also been directed to check the activities of outlawed organisations, including meetings, recruitment of new members, display of flags and provocative speeches by the leaders of radical groups.Provincial police chief Dogar said police have been directed to strictly check each and every activity of elements who were involved in making provocative speeches, painting objectionable graffiti and distribution of hate material.Police have been advised to prevent any movement or activity by people linked to proscribed organisations, he said. A senior officer from a security agency, who did not wish to be named, told PTI that law enforcement agencies had not made any efforts to maintain record of new members of proscribed organisations.List of different categories of people linked to such groups too had not been updated for several years and this was causing problems, he said."We are relying on old records, which is hindering the operation," he said.The PML-N-led government in Punjab was forced by the Pakistan People's Party government at the centre and intelligence agencies to crack down on banned groups in the wake of the recent devastating suicide attack on the Data Darbar shrine in Lahore that killed 45 people.Leaders of dominant Barelvi Sunni organisations have also been pressuring the Punjab government to launch an operation against the Punjab Taliban since suicide bombers killed anti-Taliban cleric Maulana Mufti Naeemi and attacked the Data Darbar shrine.They have also demanded the sacking of Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah for his "links" with the banned Sipah-e-Sahaba group.