PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Moazzam Jah Ansari said here on Thursday that terrorists were infiltrating from Afghanistan in tribal districts to carry out attacks.

Briefing journalists at Malik Saad Shaheed Police Lines, he said that such incidents had taken place in Bajaur, North and South Waziristan tribal districts.

Mr Ansari said that on Pakistani side, kinetic action was being taken against terrorists; however, for the issues emanating from across the border needed to be taken up with Afghan authorities. “We are facing problems from other side of the border,” he added.

He said that over past four months, Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) arrested 202 terrorists including 18, who were carrying head money. He said that about 70 terrorists including proclaimed offenders were killed in police action during that period.

Police chief says the issue needs to be taken up with Afghan authorities

Mr Ansari said that CTD also killed Daniyal, a terrorist of the so-called Islamic State, who was involved in the Koocha Risaldar suicide attack. More than 60 people were killed and scores of others were injured in the attack. He said that the terrorist was also involved in the targeted killings of police officials, Sikh homeopath Satnam Singh and Christian pastor William Siraj.

He said that CTD recovered 46 kilograms of explosives, 99 hand grenades, eight suicide jackets, three rocket propelled grenades, 43 RPG shells and other arms and ammunition.

“During the first four months of current year, 30 policemen were martyred,” said the IGP. He added that seven of the martyred officials belonged to CTD and seven others were injured.

He said that police carried out a total of 6307 search and strike operations and arrested 45,697 suspects. He said that police also recovered 8,198 different types of arms and 184,193 rounds as well. In addition, police registered 3,146 FIRs over violation of tenancy laws and 460 FIRs were lodged against hotels for failing to comply with documentation of the guests.

Mr Ansari said that police also checked a total of 87,703 educational institutions and FIRs were registered against 65 for failing to follow the security parameters. In addition to this, a total of 12,506 bus stops were also checked during the past four months and 1,061 cases were registered under Sensitive and Vulnerable Establishments and Places Security Act, 2015.

Also, 296 FIRs were registered over misuse of loudspeakers. A total of 1,199 illegal Afghans were arrested during this period and FIRs were registered against 1,083 of them.

The IGP said that police narcotics eradication teams (NETs) during crackdowns on drug mafia, lodged a total of 3,989 FIRs. He said that police recovered a total of 4,301 kilograms of charas, 418 kilograms of heroin, 246 kilograms of crystal meth, 545 kilograms of opium and 3,599 litres of liquor.

He said that the police also ensured peaceful holding of the local government polls in the province. In addition to this, police also set up Aasan Insaf Marakiz and Madadgar police.

He said that they were also focusing on better training, equipment and communication system for police in tribal districts. He said that besides several of police arms and other needs were also being met under the Accelerated Implementation Programme. “We are going to make setup of CTD in all merged districts by June 30 this year,” he added.

Regarding the safe city project, Mr Ansari said that provincial government decided to execute the project in phases, starting with the Hayatabad. He said that the Hayatabad phase of the safe city project would be completed by December at a cost of Rs 500 million.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2022