RAWALPINDI: Director-General ISPR Lt. General Asim Saleem Bajwa has said talks are underway with reference to delegating powers to Rangers in Punjab.
Briefing newsmen here on Thursday, he said attempts by Daesh to organize itself in Pakistan have been foiled and 309 including 25 foreigners of Afghan, Syrian and Iraqi nationalities have been arrested.
He said people linked with Daesh had plans to target important personalities belonging to different walks of life and state symbols.
Giving update on achievements of operation Zarb-e-Azb, he said 3500 terrorists have so far been killed and 992 hide outs destroyed. He said 900 terrorists have been killed in Khyber operation.
He said 537 personnel of armed forces were martyred and 2272 others injured.
The Director-General ISPR said Pakistan incurred staggering losses in men and material in the war against terror and therefore, no one should doubt Pakistan’s intention to fight the menace.
He said 21383 intelligence based operations have been carried out in the entire country during which 222 terrorists were killed and 31400 arrests made. There have been 168 combing operations leading to 744 arrests.
He said there has been a marked improvement in security and law and order situation due to operation Zarb-e-Azb.
About Karachi operation, he said visible reduction has been witnessed in target killings, extortions and kidnapping for ransom. He said 447 target killers were eliminated during the operation.
Asim Bajwa said proper gates would be installed at 18 major crossing points between Pakistan and Afghanistan as part of border management. Staff of immigration and other relevant departments would be posted there to ensure that no one crosses the border without valid documents.
The Director-General ISPR said Pakistan is establishing border posts and deploying FC personnel to keep a check on cross border movement but the Afghan side is not fulfilling its commitment in this regard.
He said an Infrastructure Development Plan has been prepared for terrorism affected areas. Under this, 705 kilometers of roads in North and South Waziristan have been constructed to serve as new trade corridor between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
He said 66% TDPs have also returned to their areas against the target of completion of the task by the year end.
He said certain actions would be taken against MQM in coming days. Some actions have been taken. Slogans against Pakistan are not acceptable in any way, he added. Government is taking action in this regard. The man who has given statements against Pakistan is citizen of UK. Slogan against Pakistan was raised by a foreign citizen which is not acceptable at any cost.
