DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Interior Minster Rehman Malik and NWFP Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti on Thursday visited this troubled city and held meetings with elders of rival sectarian groups.

Senior Ministers Bashir Bilour and Rahim Dad Khan also accompanied them.
Talking to delegations of traders association and peace committee comprising elders of Sunni and Shia sects Rehman Malik said that the government was taking steps to curb target killings, militancy and sectarian clashes.

He said that Dera was sensitive city and the government would equip law-enforcement agencies to cope with the law and order situation. He appreciated efforts of Maulana Fazlur Rehman who recently signed a peace deal between sectarian groups in the city.

‘Peace in Dera is vital for the region and government will take measures to restore its order,’ he said. He said that operation in Waziristan was not against particular tribe and troublemakers would be eliminated from the tribal area.

Mr Malik said that the government supported peace deal and warned that concerned station house officer would be responsible if target killings occurred in his jurisdiction. He informed that the Frontier police force was being strengthened and 20,000 personnel would be recruited in near future.

The interior minister said that involvement of foreign hands could not be ruled out in Dera situation. He said that 450 terrorists had been arrested and elements from different countries including India had been identified.