CHITRAL, Jan 12: Cases registered under the Hudood Ordinance in Chitral declined in the year 2007 as compared to the data of 2006.

According to information collected from the District Police Office, about 292 cases were registered under the Hudood law in 2007 while the number of such cases in 2006 stood at 317.

A total of 1981 cases -- nine of murders, 13 attempted murders and 10 incidents of kidnapping -- were reported to the police in 2007, showing an upward trend in the district’s crime graph.

Similarly, 13 cases of burglary, 54 cases under the Arms Ordinance and two cases of car lifting were registered last year.

Police seized arms and ammunition -- 58kg of explosive powder, 14 pistols, 41 shot-guns, five rifles and one Kalashnikov -- besides 1,088kg of charas, 39kg opium and 528 litres of liquor.

Owing to the volatile situation in the region, the number of foreign tourists decreased from 1,385 in 2006 to 1,065 in 2007.