ISLAMABAD, June 3: The interior minister, Faisal Saleh Hayat, has said 16,101 civil and criminal cases are pending with the sessions and civil courts of Islamabad district.

In a written reply to a question raised by Syed Nayyer Hussain Bokhari in the National Assembly on Thursday, the minister provided complete details of the pending cases. Mr Hayat said 529 civil and 263 criminal cases were pending with the courts of sessions and additional sessions Judge.

Likewise, 9,047 civil and 6,262 criminal cases are pending with the civil courts. Replaying to another question raised by Saima Raheel Qazi, the minister said 722 foreigners had been arrested on the charges of smuggling narcotics since January 2000. As many as 486 foreigners were convicted, while 236 cases are pending.

In 2000, 150 foreigners had been arrested on the charges of smuggling narcotics, and 143 were convicted, while seven cases are pending, he said. Similarly, in 2001, 185 foreigners had been arrested and 178 were convicted, while seven cases are pending.

In 2002, 124 foreigners had been arrested and 114 were convicted, while 10 cases are pending. In 2003, 162 foreigners had been arrested and 49 were convicted, while 113 cases were pending. In the current year, 101 foreigners have been arrested on the charges of smuggling narcotics. Out of those arrested, two were convicted, while cases of 99 are pending.

Meanwhile, the interior minister said 36,905kg heroin, 6,264kg opium, 119,412kg hashish and 50,236 bottles of liquor had been confiscated during the tenure of the present government.

Replying to a question of Bushra Rahman, he said 24,743kg heroin, 126kg opium, 28,280kg hashish and 1,700 liquor bottles had been destroyed. The minister, answering another question raised by Chaudhary Sher Ali, said the campaign to confiscate illegal weapons all over the country was already underway.

The provincial government and the capital administration conduct raids and submit reports to the interior ministry regarding recovery of illegal weapons. Replying to another question, Mr Hayat said Rs166 million had been allocated in the current budget to control poppy cultivation in the tribal areas.