Pakistan government to arrest nearly 7,000 terror suspects

PESHAWAR: Hundreds of terror suspects were arrested today in Pakistan while 10 unregistered religious seminaries were sealed as the government stepped up its offensive against militants after the Taliban's deadly school attack here that killed 150 people.

The suspects have been shifted to an undisclosed location for interrogation with some startling disclosures expected about last week's school massacre, police said without giving the exact number of persons arrested.

The interior ministry has issued orders to all four provinces and the Islamabad administration for taking into custody nearly 7,000 suspects, majority of them from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in the wake of last week's school attack in Peshawar that killed 150 people, including 134 children.

According to the ministry's list, out of the 6,777 suspects, over 4,000 are from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 1,000 from Sindh, 338 from Balochistan, 1,416 from Punjab and 23 from Islamabad, Geo News reported.

According to police officials, 'strike and search' operations were conducted in Faqirabad, Malik Abad, Saeed Abad, Sethi Town, Gulbahar No 4, Yakka Toot, Bana Mari and suburban areas Mattani, Sarband, Badabair and Urmur.

The police was assisted by security forces in the operation besides sniffer dogs.

Police sources said some important arrests have also been made in the operation whose names could not be disclosed due to security risks. 109 Afghan nationals were also detained during the operation.

SSP Operation (Peshawar) Najibur Rehman said that special teams have been formed to verify the data and other records of the religious seminaries and schools situated at the border points between settled parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and tribal areas in Peshawar.

After obtaining the data, unregistered seminaries would be closed, he added. 10 unregistered 'madrassas' have been sealed and investigations started.

Police have also issued instructions to schools for foolproof security of their buildings in District Peshawar and decided to erect walk through gates and metal detectors at the entrance and exit points of each school.