LAHORE: The Punjab government has released some 700 activists of Tehreek-i-Labbaik under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) in six divisions, while the release of over 1,500 activists detained in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Gujranwala divisions is under consideration.

Sources say the government has decided in principle that all those nominated in the FIRs under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), murder and other heinous charges will not be released as they will have to face due course of law in the courts.

The Punjab government has placed 214 TLP activists under the Fourth Schedule – a power delegated to the province by the federal government.

Sources say these activists will remain in jails for some time as they will be required to move courts to get their names removed from the Fourth Schedule besides securing their release.

“These individuals have one month to move the court and then the Punjab government has powers to take a final decision in a time span of three months,” a source said.

Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2021