Govt suspends citizenship of 2,021 suspects linked to banned, sectarian outfits

ISLAMABAD: In a significant move, the federal government has started to temporarily suspend the citizenship of individuals suspected of links to militant, sectarian, or proscribed organisations and their facilitators, sources told Geo News on Thursday.

Prominent names on the list whose identity cards have been blocked include those of religious personalities including Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat leader Maulana Mohammad Ahmed Ludhianvi, Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz, Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen leader Allama Maqsood Ali Domki, and Mohsin Najfi.

"In the first phase, NADRA has blocked 2,021 identity cards of suspected militants following the directions of National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA)," a senior official of Interior Ministry told this correspondent.

The names of the individuals are included in the Fourth Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) 1997. According to Section 11EE of the ATA, the Fourth Schedule includes "any person who is an activist, office-bearer or an associate of an organisation kept under observation … or proscribed … or … affiliated with any group or organisation suspected to be involved in terrorism or sectarianism".

The individuals will now be deprived of the ability to buy or sell property, and access to banking facilities, the sources said.