Govt likely to release sectarian activists

By Anjum Gill

LAHORE: The Punjab government is expected to release about 50 sectarian activists within ten days keeping in view Eidul Azha, sources told Daily Times on Thursday.

These sectarian activists were detained under the Maintenance of Public Ordinance (MPO-3) in October 2004 after bomb explosions in Sialkot, Multan and Lahore that killed 70 people and injured 134. They were detained for three months and the detention is ending this month, however sources said that some government quarters were suggesting that these sectarian militants should be arrested again.

The Punjab government released 36 out of 76 sectarian activists held under MPO-3 on Eidul Fitr, but arrested another 16, sources said. After the Sialkot and Multan bomb blasts, the Punjab Home Department made a list of 679 names and categorised them according to Section 11-EE of the Anti-Terrorist Act 2002. Sources said the Home and Police departments prepared a list of 209 sectarian activists of which only 76 were arrested and the DPOs were ordered to arrest the rest. They said most activists, the majority of whom went underground, are from South Punjab.

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