Over 10,000 arrested as National Action Plan against terror continues

E-Paper | October 31, 2026

Over 10,000 arrested as National Action Plan against terror continues

Mateen Haider Published February 6, 2015

Latest figures on operations being carried out by civilian and military agencies across Pakistan reveal that 10,616 people have been arrested on various charges since the launch of the National Action Plan.

Figures below come from the updated brief given to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday, outlining what has been accomplished since December 24, 2014 when the action plan against terror started.

OPERATIONS: Security agencies conducted 9,413 operations in Punjab, 1,577 in Sindh, 2,724 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), 39 in Balochistan, 336 in Islamabad, 720 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), 21 in Gilgit-Baltiststan (GB) and 56 in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).

ARRESTS: 1,934 suspects have been arrested from Punjab, 1,533 from Sindh, 6,038 from KP, 460 from Balochistan, 505 from Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), seven from Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), 10 from GB and 129 from FATA.

LOUDSPEAKER MISUSE: A total of 2,035 people were arrested for misuse of loudspeakers, including 1,806 in Punjab, 169 in KP, one in Balochistan and 59 in ICT.

HATE SPEECH: 540 cases have been registered for spreading hate speech and material, including 455 in Punjab, 34 in KP, four in Balochistan, 46 in AJK and one in GB. Law enforcement agencies also arrested 405 people and sealed 41 shops on same charges.

AFGHAN REFUGEES: 3,416 Afghan Refugees have been deported including 2,844 from KP, 195 from Balochistan, one in Islamabad and 376 from FATA.

MONEY TRANSFER: The Federal Investigation Agency has registered 18 cases for money transfer through Hawala Hundi, arrested 24 people and recovered Rs 71.5 million. Three cases have also been registered for suspicious transactions and as many people were also arrested. The agency also registered five money laundering cases and registered as many people on the charges.

SIM VERIFICATION: In total, 25.5 million cellular phone SIMs have been verified including 8,747,777 of Telenor, 7,055,753 of Mobilink, 4,186,141 of Zong, 3,544,538 of Ufone and 2,005,789 of Warid.

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Moby

Feb 06, 2015 07:39pm

Why has Bilout not been arrested when he made murder threats and offered bounties for murder of charlie hebdo owners? Either we fight against all terrorists or the cancer will never end.

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Feb 06, 2015 07:40pm

I wonder not even one case is registered on LET, Zamatu, or Hakkani...!!

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Asif

Feb 06, 2015 07:41pm

I will only believe this figures when terrorism is eradicated from the nation.

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Hatim

Feb 06, 2015 07:44pm

Until aurengzeb Farooqi is arrested, I will remain highly skeptical.

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Radhakrishna

Feb 06, 2015 07:45pm

good work done by Pakistan to combat terrorism is highly appreciable but no action so far on hate preachers and noted terrorists

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Muhammad Alyosha

Feb 06, 2015 07:46pm

Hogwash !!! Hafiz Saeed, Masood Azhar, Maulana Ludhyanvi, Orangzaib Farooqi etc are still at large holding massive rallies.

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Agha Ata

Feb 06, 2015 07:47pm

This operation could have been done many years ago, if general Sharif's predecessor were a little more bold. Anyway, it is a great relief to know that our army can handle any situation inside the country as well. I hope this operation would be extended to eradicate corruption in the government offices, too!

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Aamir Khan

Feb 06, 2015 07:49pm

And while that happens, a cleric who has issued suicide attack threats to the state AND invited the chief of the ISIS to Pakistan, sits with impunity in his Mosque. :)

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Aamir Khan

Feb 06, 2015 07:50pm

Oh and, who also has an arrest warrant issued against him. (In reference to my previous comment)

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Rehan

Feb 06, 2015 07:57pm

Very commendable indeed.. We must stay firm on Zero-tolerance towards hate speech and loudspeaker misuse.. That's the root of all evil.

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Indian

Feb 06, 2015 07:58pm

Looks a good start.

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Awais Ali

Feb 06, 2015 07:58pm

Keep going. journey is too long. its game of mindset. It has to change in order to win the war.

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saj

Feb 06, 2015 08:00pm

As long as the right people are people are being charged, this is a great result.

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Bacchus Piggawala

Feb 06, 2015 08:01pm

Do we have jail capacity? All the TTP has to do is to do another jailbreak and formally recruit some of these people into its ranks.

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Amit

Feb 06, 2015 08:03pm

Stop this NAUTANKI , whole world want to see action against HAfeez SAeed, Lakhvi & haqqani network

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Imran

Feb 06, 2015 08:07pm

Is the police in balochistan sleeping? 39 operations only...

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V PRAKASH

Feb 06, 2015 08:10pm

What about Hafid saeed?

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khan

Feb 06, 2015 08:11pm

operation in balochistan and karachi needs to be speed up as militants are gathering and going to hide there

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Sunil

Feb 06, 2015 08:12pm

Incredible, hope the government is able to take care of them in the jail.

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Nouman

Feb 06, 2015 08:15pm

@ Prakash India seems to be over-obsessed with Hafiz Saeed. Let us try to solve our problems on our own first which are far more serious than arresting just one person as per your wishes.

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shafqatmir

Feb 06, 2015 08:15pm

do not be obsessed with hafiz saaed, he did not commit any crime

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Change

Feb 06, 2015 08:18pm

Has Molvi Abdul Azeez of Lal Masjid been arrested already? and Poor activist Jibrat got arrested yesterday. LOL

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khalid

Feb 06, 2015 08:20pm

Dawn get ur figures right, in Punjab 9413 operations and arrests r only 1934, r u guys r reporting wrong or is really Punjab government is that much incompetent, look at KPK figures and notice the difference.

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Noddy

Feb 06, 2015 08:23pm

I would like to thank pakistani government from the bottom of the heart, You are never strong until you are one from within! If you need help, ask India.

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islooboy

Feb 06, 2015 08:26pm

@Amit hafiz saeed was declared innocent and freed by court he is as innocent as modi

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islooboy

Feb 06, 2015 08:27pm

arrest all who create unrest in pakistan and work against pakistani agenda

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MrA2Z

Feb 06, 2015 08:29pm

Cry Indians cry. Law cannot arrest someone on mere wishes of others. They need solid proof not allegations.

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mastang

Feb 06, 2015 08:57pm

Whats the benefit deporting Afghan Refugees, tomorrow again they will be back from border.

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Farhan

Feb 06, 2015 09:00pm

This is the first step towards addressing extremism, we cant achieve every objective in one step. Be patient everyone.

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Joe FL

Feb 06, 2015 09:11pm

Over 10,000 arrests. Are they off the street or still there? Trials, verdicts, convictions?

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In denial

Feb 06, 2015 09:17pm

Look at those figures from Punjab Figures speaks for itself that bigger problem lies in which part of the country !!

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bauke

Feb 06, 2015 09:20pm

.......and is it more safe in the country, now?

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Patriotic Indian

Feb 06, 2015 09:29pm

Well done, impressive, now deliver justice to them. Wish you best Pakistan.

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Shahid Khan

Feb 06, 2015 09:33pm

I hope this is true report!! It is hard to believe that Pakistan Army is doing that!! We need more evidence!

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KafirMusafir

Feb 06, 2015 09:35pm

@Rehan :: No, that is definitely NOT the root cause of what is happening in Pakistan and the wider Muslim world

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Shahid Khan

Feb 06, 2015 09:36pm

I am Pakistani and I agree with my indian brothers! What is Hafiz Saeed doing with LOUDSPEAKERS in public areas!! Till we see that we are also worried about our neighbour India with whom we share thousand of years of history.

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rkn

Feb 06, 2015 09:46pm

A good start...but world would like to see a good finish as well. Let's see if Pakistan is able to show zero bias between good and bad terrorists.

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Abdul

Feb 06, 2015 09:56pm

@Asif easier said than done. These figures however seem credible and some good work is going on in the background. Army is doing its duty to the nation in the background.

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ayesha

Feb 06, 2015 09:59pm

Many innocent will be caught and arrested, just watch.

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Shahid Akbar, New York

Feb 06, 2015 09:59pm

Catch the big fish too.

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Cyrus Ho

Feb 06, 2015 10:03pm

Now Pakistan's army is beginning to look like an army. "No IS here". Ex president Zardari and his friends are still hiding under their beds. The best they could do was attack and beat a bakery shop worker. During the PPP's time in office they didn't arrest 10,000 miscreants. They probably let as many as 10,000 miscreants escape jail. The new PM is Pakistan's strong man. Always was.

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noone

Feb 06, 2015 10:03pm

Wow in this rate one day our entire pak will be in jail. Well done NAP

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Rehan

Feb 06, 2015 10:05pm

These people are tumor.. And the problem with tumor is, you have to cut it out 100% or it grows back like the cancer it is

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Cyrus Ho

Feb 06, 2015 10:14pm

@saj Point taken.

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Cyrus Ho

Feb 06, 2015 10:15pm

@Asif Terrorism will be defeated when people like yourself step up.

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Nom

Feb 06, 2015 10:18pm

I know Punjab population is more but numbers are showing that Punjab is also breeding ground not just KP. Thanks to Sharif brothers and Ran jee.

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rabz

Feb 06, 2015 10:18pm

I would say it's a postive start.

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Nasser

Feb 06, 2015 10:20pm

Doen not mean anything; after all there is, as always, no independent verification; and none of the major terrorists have yet been hanged, such as Mumtaz Qadri. He should be hanged publicly and telvised live on national tv. Otherwise, the situation will in fact get even worse.

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Cyrus Ho

Feb 06, 2015 10:20pm

@Awais Ali Correct. If religious terrorism is not defeated in Pakistan the result will be civil war. That was what the army has been trying to avoid.

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khan saheb

Feb 06, 2015 10:22pm

Excellent Job, Crimes already down almost 50% another three months inshaAllah and we will be back to normal

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Cyrus Ho

Feb 06, 2015 10:25pm

@Imran Pakistan's problem is not Balochistan nationalism. That can be negotiated. Religious zealots will not negotiate. Their righteousness is an itch they can't scratch without having power and control.

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Parvez

Feb 06, 2015 10:26pm

....but Abdul Aziz and his wife of Lal Masjid are still free and preaching hate and supporting terror ideology ........... he is proving himself stronger than the State.

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Range Rover

Feb 06, 2015 10:28pm

Are Hafiz Saeed, Aurangzeb Farooqi, Abdul Aziz arrested? If not than sell this phakki to someone else. Many Thanks PMLN!

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Cyrus Ho

Feb 06, 2015 10:32pm

@Joe FL In Egypt you would not find out where 10,000 prisoners are kept. Egypt has 350.000 policemen, and 400,000 in the army.

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Vasudhaiba kutumbakam

Feb 06, 2015 10:32pm

Sheer number shows the action being taken on haphazard manner. Innocent persons may get embroiled. A good start however.

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woody

Feb 06, 2015 10:35pm

Makes you wonder what Pakistan would look like had they done this ten years ago. All those years of blaming the USA, Israel and India gone to waste.

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Rakesh Kumar

Feb 06, 2015 10:42pm

And the country has been declared safe for the Western Tourists and Cricketers. What a freaking hogwash. Grow up and smell the coffee.

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Mein_Jinn

Feb 06, 2015 10:55pm

YET, the situation in Karachi is getting WORSE. Forget it, the situation in all over Pakistan is getting worse when it come to Security of Awaam. Who are you arresting???

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Harmony

Feb 06, 2015 11:06pm

@Amit - "whole world want to see" what "whole world". The world must be a very limited place in your mind. Wishes of a few can apply to Modi too.

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Mohammad Basith

Feb 06, 2015 11:08pm

1. How many of them are elected members of National Assembly? 2. Do they have enough facilities to hold such a large number detainees? because as per the news since last year and a half they arrested almost five hundred thousand criminals. what a eye wash.

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Seedoo

Feb 06, 2015 11:10pm

Can this sweep include ex Chief Justice of Lahore High Court, Khawaja Mohammad Shariff and his ilk who regard Chrlie Hebdo's killers as heroes and want to fight to get the socio path Mumtaz Qadri released? It seems like the operation is only against the foot soldiers who are mostly uneducated poor people being manipulated by their big bosses who move around with impunity in Pakistan.

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Varntvar

Feb 06, 2015 11:17pm

All of this is sham till Hafeez Saeed roams free....

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Dr. Syed

Feb 06, 2015 11:23pm

At least a good starting point. But all of the major contributors of terrorism are still roaming around fearlessly including Abdul Aziz, Orangzaib Farooqi, IShaq, Hafiz Saeed, Masood Azhar, Maulana Ludhyanvi, ASWJ, LeJ, Haqqani and Talibans.

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Ovais

Feb 06, 2015 11:36pm

@Mohammad Basith very well said!

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masood

Feb 06, 2015 11:38pm

This is a good start..definately Zero tolerance against criminals and terrorists most important is the de-weaponization from the country's gun culture...surrender of all illegal arms within the population, then only we will find safety in out society.......Then only Pakistan's problem will be resolved and our young generation will manage to move forward and educate themself.

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Feb 06, 2015 11:46pm

99% arrested would be the poor and innocent or with minor criminal records. In Pakistan if you arrest a true criminal you are a dead person. Might is right in Pakistan ooops.

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asif

Feb 07, 2015 12:05am

Total lies and eye washing government instead of taking action giving money and official protection to terrorists like LJ SSP and Lt really a shame

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Ahsan

Feb 07, 2015 12:16am

@Amit Your NAUTANKI is matchless. In India, ruthless butchers are made PMs. Speaks volumes about 'world's biggest democracy' lol

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i2t

Feb 07, 2015 12:17am

For five years make all terror related offence penalised by death and all accessory to terrorism as 20 years imprisonment and seizure of all property to finance those 20 years.

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ahmed

Feb 07, 2015 12:19am

One step forward... One step at a time... Bravo...clap clap clap

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Ragu

Feb 07, 2015 12:46am

Some of them such serious strategic assets to wage proxy wars; hence an attempt once in a while to appease those who fund the war against terror, is but a small effort. Most terror groups will be allowed to operate once this all settles down.

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sir

Feb 07, 2015 12:51am

Moulana Abdul Aziz, Munawar Hassan should be the first one to be tried in newly set up milltary court. To prove it is not just another an eye wash.

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AJamal

Feb 07, 2015 01:03am

These indiscriminate arrests are an eyewash. Those arrested will be freed at first hearing due to the lack of evidence.

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farhad

Feb 07, 2015 01:15am

so terrorists are still at a large ... as per above data. all suspects, arrested.... 99% will be released. good. what about those who are claiming responsibilities yet remain free...? is that NAP or a nap happening.... govt failed to learn lessons from past and even now same lames lurking around behind one after another issue just passing the time to complete their tenure....

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dvk

Feb 07, 2015 01:38am

Are there prisons large enough to accommodate them all?

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Feb 07, 2015 01:47am

@khalid The numbers are identical but messed up.

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Kirther

Feb 07, 2015 01:48am

It is good that there is some progress but very slow, what about those involved in massacre of Mihaj-ul-Quran people in Lahore last year, were they not terrorist?

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sid

Feb 07, 2015 02:31am

10,000 arrested, but how many are convicted and punished?

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Keti Zilgish

Feb 07, 2015 02:32am

@Agha Ata Did his predecessor ever look bold to any body and unlike what he does? If looks are not deceptive than what is? Don't ever underestimate your enemy?

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Keti Zilgish

Feb 07, 2015 02:48am

@mastang it would certainly help the border protection authorities.

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Keti Zilgish

Feb 07, 2015 02:51am

@Patriotic Indian They call it The Revolving Door.

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Jaleel Rahman

Feb 07, 2015 02:54am

Good start. But let us arrest Hafiz Saeed and Aziz of Lal masjid who are still having their shows on TV and Juma prayers. The other day Hafiz Saeed said on a TV show that he has waited for 65 years for implantation of Sharia, of course his type of Sharia.And if there are IFS and BUTS then you will not achieve any thing.

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A Shah

Feb 07, 2015 03:15am

Good made up figures

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Asab

Feb 07, 2015 03:52am

"Figures come from the updated brief given to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday, outlining what has been accomplished". Well, dollar figures are missing including bribery.

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Malek Towghi/Tauqee, Ph.D.

Feb 07, 2015 04:21am

Out of about 10,000 arrested 'suspects', less than 2000 (20%-) are from Punjab and the rest, about 8000 ( 80%+), from KP, Sindh and Baluchistan. Remember that Punjab's population is more than 50% of Pakistan' total population. Why this gross discrepancy?

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Bipul

Feb 07, 2015 05:02am

Prevention is better than cure. Capturing terrorists is a good start but to root this evil out, it is important to arrest those who are creating terrorists. Pakistan must arrest all hate mongers, extremists, religious fanatics or anyone who tries to twist the religious preachings to create haters. If there is a will, it's very doable.

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ajay

Feb 07, 2015 06:47am

10,000, in few days. thats quick. i hope innocents are also not trapped in this action and that would go in wrong in direction.

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Indian

Feb 07, 2015 06:50am

@Nouman "India seems to be over-obsessed with Hafiz Saeed. Let us try to solve our problems on our own first which are far more serious than arresting just one person as per your wishes." Hafiz Saeed is also YOUR problem dear. He is giving money and other supports to terrorist. He is in contact with all terror groups including that who attacked Peshawar school.

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Omar

Feb 07, 2015 06:58am

Keep up the good work. Lets find all these terrorists and their supporters and route them out! Its also time for us common Pakistani civilians to do our part too. We need to report any suspicious activity or anyone we think is preaching hatred or intolerance. We all need to stand together on this issue

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Indian

Feb 07, 2015 07:00am

@shafqatmir "do not be obsessed with hafiz saaed, he did not commit any crime" Dr. Edhi runs a charity foundation. Has India or USA asked Pak govt. to arrest him?? NO. Now use your brain to find out the reason why India and USA is asking to arrest Hafiz Saaed. FYI, Pak govt has banned Hafiz Saaed's organization.

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umer

Feb 07, 2015 07:21am

Who is the government trying to fool? Because your donors are clever enough and will soon see through this charade. If the purpose is to sooth some frayed nerves locally then all I can say is that it is a very myopic policy. 'You can fool all the people some of the time, some of the people all the time but not all the people all the time'. Unless offcourse the ruling class is of the view, 'after me, the deluge'.

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Harmony

Feb 07, 2015 04:18pm

@Indian - Yes, good points. Unfortunately, the courts could not convict him.

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