LEAs, police to monitor political gatherings

ISLAMABAD: The law-enforcement agencies (LEAs) and police have been asked to enhance vigilance about the movement of proclaimed offenders (POs) and the accused involved in May 9 crimes of attacking sensitive installations and degrading martyrs memorials and terrorist activities, till the upcoming general elections.

A crackdown on such criminals would be carried out if their movement is reported in or around political gatherings. The authorities concerned have been warned about the possible disturbance through involvement and presence of such rogue elements in political gatherings and corner meetings of their favourite party.

Highly-placed sources dealing with the maintenance of security and law and order situation told The News on anonymity on Friday evening that the disgruntled elements could cause rumpus in the days to come in the wake of high pitch of electioneering and campaigning for the February 8 polls. The sources said that the crackdown would be carried out even if such elements’ presence was established within the four walls of any activity since the law permits authorities to nab such people for the sake of peace in the society and conform to the call of duty. The sources pointed out that geo-fencing and audio evidence of May 9-10 had greatly helped in identifying such people and the work was still underway in their location and identification. The Punjab Police have already arrested several accused in attacks on the GHQ Rawalpindi, Askari Tower Lahore, Mianwali airbae and other sensitive places in the province and the KP police are also following the same in their jurisdiction as more offenders have been identified in the process of interrogations. The monitoring of political gatherings and meetings has already been underway and further scrutiny has been ordered for the purpose, the sources indicated.

Dr Akbar Nasir Khan, inspector general of police, Islamabad, has confided that all police stations and other agencies concerned in the jurisdiction of the federal capital had been forewarned about the possible obnoxious activities of POs and other criminals in the garb of political gatherings. The alert would remain in place and the criminals who are required by police wouldn’t be permitted to take advantage of election campaigns in the federal capital. They will be arrested as soon as they turn to such places or reports are available of their presence. To a query, he said the law and order situation was under control while the law-enforcing agencies would have to be on extra vigil during next two weeks.