SWABI: Due to effective policing and counterterrorism measures incidents of terrorism in the district have come down significantly in the last six months, claimed district police officer Mohammad Sohaib Ashraf on Friday.

Talking to reporters here, he said during the period the law enforcement agencies conducted 180 search and strike operations in which total 9,900 suspects, including Afghans, were arrested; 354 different kinds of firearms recovered; and 76 kilogrammes of explosives seized.

In addition, he said in the sniffer dog checking 2,160 suspects were arrested. The facilitators of militant were equally targeted, he added.

Mr Ashraf said several operations were conducted in the militancy-hit area of Malikabad in the mountainous region of Gadoon Amazai, adding the Maini region had also been cleared of anti-state elements.

The DPO said emergency call service had been provided to 1,723 public and private educational institutions, 78 banks, 331 jewellery shops, 29 money changers and four Nadra offices across the district.

However, he stressed the need for public cooperation in effectively stamping out terrorism and extremism from the society. The DPO also eulogised the performance of police force for the sake of peace in the district.

He said the district police had created a Quick Response Force to secure important locations and also conduct emergency checking on different roads. The head of the force presents a daily progress report to me, said Mr Ashraf.

MOCK DRILL: The district police conducted a mock drill at the University of Swabi and Captain Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed Cadet College to educate the staff and students on how to evacuate the premises in case of emergency, officials said.

A day earlier, police and army also conducted a mock drill at Tarbela Dam where a Chinese company is executing the dam’s fourth extension project.

Personnel of Quick Response Force, Counter-Terrorism Department, Elite Force and police participated in the exercise.

Published in Dawn, May 06th, 2017