GILGIT, April 5: Law-enforcing agencies recovered at least 91 weapons as a search operation for illegal weapons continued in Gilgit for the fourth day on Tuesday. Northern Areas Chief Secretary Manzoor Nadeem told a press briefing here that out of 91 weapons, 54 were licensed and 37 weapons and 720 rounds of ammunition were illegal. He said that nobody was arrested but a few suspects were detained and freed after interrogation. Answering a question, he said that a member of the Northern Areas Legislative Council, Haider Khan, was still in detention and being interrogated as weapons had been recovered from his house.

He added that the law-enforcing agencies had freed a PIA official, Sher Ali, who had been detained on Monday for investigation.

About the nature of seized weapons, he said that the cache included three Kalashnikovs and some pistols and pledged that they would continue the search operation till restoration of peace in the city.

About hurdles in the operation, the chief secretary said that he lacked staff to assist him as the home secretary was defying the government orders and had not so far joined duty without any intimation.

Police Officer Sarmad Saeed Khan, who was assisting the chief secretary in the briefing, said they would search an entire locality if a gun shot was fired from there.—Correspondent