Seminaries put under surveillance ahead of JUI-F’s march on capital – Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The seminars and leaders of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) in the capital have been monitored to prepare a strategy to face the Azadi march of the political-religious party to the capital.

On the directives of the administration of the capital, the police have alerted their Special Branch to gather information on the affiliation of religious seminars, teachers and students with the JUI-F. In addition, seminars, teachers and students that can support the JUI-F should also be identified.

In this sense, intelligence was mounted in the seminars and its surroundings to collect details.

Teachers, students who can support the march are also being identified, authorities say

The officials deployed around the seminars observe the people who visit the facilities and prepare their lists. Teachers and seniors are also under surveillance to verify who they are meeting and contacting these days.

Details are being collected about people and those who are affiliated with JUI-F and other political-religious parties have been monitored to take action against them when necessary, officials said.

There are 329 religious seminars in the capital and JUI-F is expected to receive support, including labor, from 207 of the seminars, officials said, adding that more than 28,000 students are receiving education at these seminars.

In addition, the surveillance of Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Maulana Attaur Rehman, Mufti Abrar, Khawaja Mudassar and Majeed Hazarvi also began. Maulana Fazlur Rehman staff members are also being monitored.

Car rental, hotel and catering service providers are also being monitored along with customers who visit them, officials said.

The Maintenance of Public Order or the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) can be used against JUI-F leaders, teachers and students to restrict their preparation and participation in the long march.

In addition, CrPC can also be used against service providers to restrict them from dealing with the organizers, leaders and participants of the long march.

Meanwhile, the capital's police have begun an important riot exercise to test their newly prepared strategy, a police officer said, adding that the exercise began after the JUI-F announced its Azadi march against the government from from October 27.

In November 2017, Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan surpassed the capital's police and continued its sitting in Faizabad. After assuming the position of inspector general of the police (IGP) Islamabad, Sultan Azam Temuri in December 2017 presented the Riot Unit (ARU) and Police Reserves.

Huge shields were introduced to cover ARU units and reserves, which comprise more than a dozen officials, to deal with any mafia.

The ARU has the force of 451 officials, while the Counter-Terror Squad has 71 employees, the official said, adding that more than 1,000 officials from the security and operation wings of the capital participated in the exercise that takes place at the headquarters of police.

Police reserves and ARU along with ATS will participate later in the exercises.

The officer said that the long march to the Red Zone would not be allowed and, if necessary, the high security area would be closed. In addition, participants of the long march will not be able to meet in Faizabad.

Pindi police prepare lists

Rawalpindi District Police have prepared lists of local JUI-F leaders and related ideas seminars, as well as starting talks with them to convince them not to participate in the long march.

According to sources, the lists of local leaders and prominent figures of the JUI-F were prepared shortly after the party leaders announced the protest against the government. However, intelligence and police officials have pledged to hold meetings with local leaders.

"Yes, we are holding meetings with them, but they are strict with their stance and do not give information about their protest plan," said a security official, adding that details were being collected on mothers.

A senior police official said the government's strategy regarding the march had not yet been announced. Therefore, it would be too early to say whether the police were entrusted with the task of allowing or not allowing protesters to continue to Islamabad.

Posted on Dawn, October 9, 2019