ISLAMABAD: The capital administration banned the entry of 14 clerics belonging to different schools of thought in the city for two months.

The han was imposed as the ulema were considered a threat to law and order during Muharram, a police officer said. Five of the ulema belong to the Deobandi, five to Shia and four to Barelvi school of thought, he added.

Similarly, the administration also but a ban on the activities of 11 ulema living in the capital.

Earlier, the Special Branch of the police had identified the clerics who allegedlyspread religious and sectarian hatred in the city in the past.

Meanwhile, the Islamabad police finalised security arrangements for processions and religious gatherings during Muharram.

About 12,000 personnel of the police, Rangers and FC would perform security duties and maintain high vigilance to thwart any untoward incident, the police stated.

In Rawalpindi, the Punjab government also banned the entry of 31 ulema and zakirs in the district for 60 days.

The clerics are firebrand speakers and sectarian activists and have been in the habit of making provocative speeches on sectarian issues, said the police.

A police report suggested to the districtadministration that the arrival of the clerics in the district was likely to generate sectarian provocation, friction and hatred among various sects.

Therefore, these persons should not be allowed to enter, reside or remain within the limits of Rawalpindi.

In view of the police recommendations, the entry of the 31 ulema and zakirs was banned in the Rawalpindi district.

The government has already decided to register cases against organisers of majalis in which any of the banned ulema and zakirs would be invited in Muharram.

The Special Branch has been tasked to monitor the movements of the ulema and zakirs listed by the police for the ban dur-ing Muharram.

In Taxila, the district administration of Attock banned the entry of 90 religious scholars belonging to different schools of thought in the district for 90 days.

An order issued by the deputy commissioner said the entry of the clerics had been banned in exercise of powers conferred upon the district magistrate under West Pakistan Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance 1960.

The ulema shall not enter, reside or remain in the revenue limits of the district for a period of two months from the date of theissuance ofthis order.

As many as 42 of the ulema belonged to the Deobandi, eight to Barelvi and 40 Shia school of thought.