SUKKUR: An unspecified number of unregistered seminaries were raided by police and Rangers personnel in different areas of Sukkur on Sunday.

A large number of teachers and students were rounded up but nearly all of them were let off after brief interrogation about the working and routine of their respective seminaries.

The law enforcement agencies personnel surrounded Madressah Mehmoodia in the Bachal Shah area, Madressah Jamia Ashrafia near the City Point bypass, Madressah Khulafa-i-Rashideen in the New Pind area, Madressah Anwarul Uloom near Maka Goth and other seminaries in the city and checked their records.

Also read: Crackdown on 48 seminaries ‘promoting terrorism’ planned

They took away laptops and other computer equipment, printed literature, record books, communication equipment including cellphones and other articles in custody during a thorough search of the seminaries.

They rounded up and interrogated all teachers and students present in the seminaries during the raid but set them free within a few hours. However, four clerics were taken away for further interrogation. Their names could not be ascertained immediately but it was learnt that they hailed from Karachi, Piryaloi (Khairpur) and Ghouspur (Kandhkot).

The raids were stated to be part of the National Action Plan to curb religious extremism leading to terrorism in the country. Seminaries have been asked to get themselves registered to avoid action.

Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2015

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