140 suspected terrorists disappear from homes in Pak: Report

Most of the 140 suspected terrorists are members of groups included by the Punjab home department in a list of organisations banned under the fourth schedule of the Anti Terrorism Act, The Express Tribune newspaper quoted a report of a provincial intelligence agency as saying.

The home department has sent a copy of the report to the Punjab Police chief and other security officials and directed them to take immediate action. The department directed law enforcement agencies to maintain records of the suspects, especially when they leave the jurisdiction of local police stations.

Individuals who meet or contact the suspected terrorists or those linked with any incident of terrorism will also be monitored, the daily reported. An earlier report by the same provincial intelligence agency had said that out of 2,151 alleged extremists listed under the fourth schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 724 have not deposited surety bonds so far.

Action against 518 alleged extremists is still pending, the report said. The provincial intelligence agency has asked police to place all 2,151 alleged extremists under strict surveillance and register cases against the 140 that have disappeared.

The home department also directed police to compile a list of elements who provide logistical support and shelter to terrorists. According to figures compiled by the home department, four suspected terrorists are missing from Bahawalpur, six from Sheikhupura, seven each from Lahore and Sargodha, 11 from Faisalabad, 12 from Gujranwala, 17 from Dera Ghazi Khan, 35 from Rawalpindi and 41 from Multan.