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 Fact.
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.
