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ISLAMABAD: A major crackdown has been set off to wipe out the activities of the banned militants groups, all-over Pakistan.

An update report says that as many as 181 members of the defunct militant organizations were arrested till late Sunday in a nationwide clean-up operation by the security agencies.

An earlier report said that the law enforcing agencies Sunday continued their nationwide crackdown against the leaders and workers of defunct militant outfits across the country netting dozens of militants of the banned groups.

At least 57 leaders and active members of the banned outfits were arrested from Multan, Bahwalpur, Khanewal, Muzaffargarh and Dera Ghazi Khan, police sources said.

The Police also sealed many offices of these outlawed outfits in these cities and confiscated all the published material found in the offices.

Offices Sealed

Meanwhile, 17 offices of defunct organisations were also sealed in Sindh including three in Karachi, police sources said.

Islami Tehreek Pakistan [ITP], Millat-e-Islami Pakistan [MIP] and Khudamul Islam were banned Saturday, while another, the Jamaatul Dawa, was put on a watch list under Pakistan's Anti Terrorist Act as the government sought to curb attempts by outlawed militant groups to resume their activities under the cover of new nomenclatures.

Credible sources say that about 80 militant of outlawed Islami Tehrik Pakistan [ITP] were arrested across the country following the detention of ITP head Allama Sajid Naqvi.

They further revealed that no FIR was lodged against the detained workers and leaders of the banned groups except Allama Sajid Naqvi who was charged in Mullana Azam Tariq Murder case. Maulana Azam Tariq was gunned down along with his four other companions in Islamabad on October-6.

Sajid on physical remand

Sajid Naqvi has been sent on seven days physical remand here Sunday by the duty Judge, a police source said.

Senior Superintendent Police, Islamabad Shahid Nadeem Baloch said that he is in police custody and being investigated in case of assassination of Azam Tariq.

Sajid Naqvi was arrested by the Rawalpindi police on Saturday night and later handed over to Capital police.

Arrests

Another 50 members of Milat-e-Islamia [former Sipah-e-Sehaba], 35 members of Mulana Masood Azhar’s Khuddam-ul-Islam [former Jaish-e-Muhammad] and about 16 of other banned organizations were arrested during the last 24 hours, the sources said.

Most of the arrestees were made from Punjab and Sindh.

Strict Measures Ordered

Meanwhile, it is also learnt that the federal government has directed all the four provincial governments to take strict measures against the banned groups and seal their offices if they try to reopen offices with new names.

Raids

Police raids have been conducted in different cities of the country into arrest of Maulana Masood Azhar, Chief of Khuddam-ul-Islam – a recently banned religious faction, said a report on Sunday.

More than 15 offices of the three banned militant groups were sealed off and 10 activists of the three militant factions were detained in Rawalpindi, according to details.

Offices of banned groups Sealed

Sanam Kash adds from PT Lahore Bureau: The police have sealed eight offices of three recently banned groups Islami Tehrik-i-Pakistan, Millat-i-Islamia Pakistan and Khudam-ul-Islam in the provincial metropolis.

The police sources said that three of the offices sealed belonged to Millat-i-Islamia Pakistan, three were of Jaish-i-Mohammad and one of Tehrik-i-Jafaria.

The officers sealed were situated at Bund Road near Shezan Factory, Sabzazar Scheme, Badami Bagh, A-2 Muslim Town Mor and 90-Temple Road.

A right decision: Jamali

The Prime Minister, Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali Sunday said that the decision to ban the extremist groups was right and whoever transgressed the law, would be punished.

"Whoever transgresses the law whether he is Prime Minister or anybody else will be punished," the Prime Minister said while talking to journalists at an Iftar Dinner.

Replying to a question about banning extremist organizations, the Prime Minister said that the Government had taken a right decision of banning the extremist organizations which had been working under different names after these were banned last year.

About banning of other similar organizations, the Prime Minister said that there was possibility of banning such organizations. "Whoever will violate the law, we will take action against him under the law." He said he was trying to ensure an environment in the country free of terrorism and extremism.

When asked about the details of the allegations against banned groups, the Prime Minister said that it was an executive decision and the right one. "It is not necessary to reveal the details of every executive decision."

Talks with MMA

About talks with MMA, the Prime Minister said that he had heard Qazi Hussain Ahmed talking about some kind of deadline. "We don't believe in deadlines but we want a live line to communicate."

Defence Minister Reax

Defence and Senior Minister Rao Sikander Iqbal has said that the ban on the three renamed outfits was imposed by the government in the larger national interest.

About Pakistan-India relations, the Minister said that "We do not want war with India but at the same time we know how to defend ourselves." India wants to put Kashmir problem in a cold storage, he added.

The Minister said that no body can dare to cast an evil eye on Pakistan as the defence of the country is in strong hands and we are ever ready to face any aggression.

Regarding Qazi Hussain Ahmad's ultimatum to launch movement, Rao Sikander said the masses would not be hoodwinked by the opposition as they are with the present government.

White Paper

Defence Minister Sikendar said the white paper issued by the ARD is contrary to the reality and added that opposition should cooperate with the government and wait for its turn till the next elections.

Govt committed to root out sectarianism: Interior Minister

Interior Minister Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat Sunday said that the government was committed to root out sectarianism from the society and solid steps were being taking in this respect.

Addressing a public meeting here after inaugurating the Area Office of Sui Gas at Ahmad Nagar, he said that the government would not allow anybody to take law into his hand. “No sectarian organization would be allowed to work in the country,” he added.

The interior minister expressed the hope that after banning of three renamed outfits, the law and order situation would further improve in the country.

Operation against Al-Qaeda

Faisal said the operation against Al-Qaeda would continue but it is upto the provincial governments how they would deal with the issue.

The interior minister disclosed that the draft law regarding monitoring of Maddaris (religious seminaries) involved in fanning sectarianism would be presented before the federal cabinet within one month.

About reported tortured on Pakistan Muslim League [Nawaz] detained acting president, he said Javed Hashmi was not tortured by the police during investigation. It is jurisdiction of the courts to give A or B class to Javed Hashmi, he added.