ISLAMABAD, Sept 14: Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao on Wednesday said five top leaders of banned religious organizations had been arrested in different parts of the country on Tuesday and Wednesday. Talking to journalists after the inauguration of the Islamabad Highway, the minister said the arrest had been made in the NWFP, Punjab and Sindh.

He said 190 leaders and activists of banned groups had been arrested during the current operation.

Responding to a question about alleged involvement of MNA Naik Zaman in terrorist activities in tribal areas, the minister said investigation was under way in this regard.

He said a brother of Mr Zaman had been arrested during an operation in North Waziristan.

“The government is committed to purging the country of terrorist activities,” he said.

Mr Sherpao said four foreigners involved in the terrorist activities had been arrested in North Waziristan with a huge cache of arms and ammunition.

He said interrogation was in progress and identity of the suspects had to be established.

He said terrorists were trying to malign Pakistan and Islam.

The minister said the government had succeeded in controlling misuse of loudspeakers during Friday sermons besides seizing hate literature.

“It is a continuous process which will continue till terrorists area flushed out of the country,” he said.