ISLAMABAD: Security forces are reported to have arrested over 500 people allegedly belonging to banned militant outfits during search operations in the federal capital and other areas of the country.

According to Dawn.com, an interior ministry official told BBC that cases against the arrested terrorists would be registered under the Protection of Pakistan Act recently approved by parliament.

The crackdown on members of the outlawed organisations is part of the ongoing military operation in North Waziristan.

Cases against arrested terrorists would be registered under the PPA

According to the official, most of the arrests (over 300) have been made in Punjab, followed by 100 in Karachi and about 150 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

The official said that an intelligence report sent to the federal government revealed that besides North and South Waziristan, a large number of Taliban and their supporters were found in Karachi.

The interior ministry and the National Counter-Terrorism Authority (Nacta) have been informed about the crackdown on the banned organisations.

The Islamabad High Court recently suspended a notification about transfer of Nacta’s command from the Prime Minister’s Secretariat to the interior ministry. 

Meanwhile, secret units set up at different police stations in Islamabad have started collecting data about terrorists and banned organisations and their activities. Each unit will have two policemen who will prepare a report on the activities of these outfits on a daily basis and give it to the in-charge concerned. Army’s intelligence officials have given special training to policemen in this regard.

The army had earlier given commando training to jail officials to pre-empt militant attacks.

According to the intelligence report, a large number of people belonging to tribal areas are living in Tarnol and Bara Kaho, on the outskirts of Islamabad. Police and National Database and Registration Authority officials have yet to go to these areas for survey.

Published in Dawn, July 17th, 2014