ISLAMABAD, Feb 27: The Senate was informed on Wednesday that a majority of suicide attacks in the country took place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and that Punjab was particularly vulnerable to crimes against property.

In reply to a question put by Senator Col (retd) Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi, Interior Minister Rehman Malik told the house that 57 suicide attacks took place in KP from 2010 to 2012.

He said that 32 suicide attacks took place in 2010, 24 in 2011 and 21 in 2012 across the country.

Over 8,560 incidents of dacoity took place in Punjab, 4,690 in Sindh, 218 in KP, 281 in Balochistan, 86 in Islamabad and 16 in Gilgit-Baltistan.

About 55,225 robberies were committed in Punjab, 4,690 in Sindh, 1,257 in KP, 493 in Balochistan, 819 in Islamabad and 86 in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Over 98,495 incidents of theft took place in Punjab, 7,786 in Sindh, 4,278 in KP, 2,387 in Balochistan, 1,030 in Islamabad and 593 in Gilgit-Baltistan during the past three years.

The minister told the house that the police department had earned the reputation of having an unblemished history of selfless, dedicated service towards efficient fulfilment of duties including enforcement of laws and maintenance of writ of the government.

He said preventive and effective measures had been taken against notorious criminals and cases had also been sent to courts for their prosecution.

Several gangsters and criminals had been arrested and their cases were in courts.