QUETTA: More than 9,000 suspected militants and criminals were apprehended by police, levies, frontier corps and intelligence agencies in Balochistan as a part of the national action plan in the year 2015, according to Home Secretary Balochistan, Akbar Hussain Durrani.

The Home Secretary claimed that a total of 1,973 intelligence based-operations were conducted in Balochistan and apprehend the elements involved in targeted killings, bomb explosions and kidnappings.

"Innocent people were freed, whereas the criminals were charged", he added.

Durrani said that the law enforcement agencies also killed at least 204 'hardcore militants' during the year 2015 adding that 70 law enforcement agencies personnel were also killed during encounters with 'miscreants'.

He maintained that the suspects killed during the operation mostly belonged to banned outfits.

"Balochistan Government implemented 17 out of 20 points under NAP to bring an end to unrest and maintain law and order situation. " Mr. Durrani said.

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The Home Secretary stated that law and order situation in Balochistan improved by 70 percent during last two years. "Complete implementation of NAP would ensure peace in the province", he added.

Security forces expedited operations in Quetta and other troubled parts of Balochistan in the aftermath of announcement of NAP by the federal government after the terror attack on Peshawar's Army Public School which killed 144 people, mostly children.

The province has been under the grip of violence attacks by militant groups and Baloch insurgents for last more than a decade. Violent attacks had claimed scores of precious human lives.

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