The Punjab government is considering a proposal for releasing sectarian activists that it detained under MPO 3, if the leaders of the related organisations provide affidavits pledging that the detained men would not indulge in sectarian activities, sources told Daily Times on Wednesday.
Sources said that a majority of detained activists belonged to Anjuman Sipah-e-Sihaba Pakistan, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and Sipah-e-Mohammed Pakistan. The Punjab government released 36 out of 76 sectarian activists on Eidul Fitr those were arrested under MPO 3. The government however arrested another 16 sectarian activists, sources said. They said that there were at least 56 activists detained by the government. Sources said that the Home and Police departments had prepared a list of 209 sectarian activists after the bomb blasts in Sialkot and Multan, out of which only 76 were arrested. A Home Department official said: "The Punjab home secretary released the detainees after hearing their petitions, but also rejected some petitions." He said that nearly 20 petitions were pending with the Home secretary. He said that more detainees were expected to be released if their leaders provided affidavits to the government. |