By IANS
Islamabad : Pakistan’s security forces have killed over 230 militants and arrested 90, including some foreign nationals, since beginning their operations in the northern Swat region, an official has said.
“With the situation improving in Swat, the people of the region will also exercise their franchise in the coming elections,” Dawn Wednesday quoted interior ministry spokesman Brig. (retd) Javed Iqbal Cheema as saying here.
At a briefing here Tuesday, Cheema expressed optimism that the Swat operation would conclude in about a week and that the atmosphere there would be conducive for the Jan 8 elections.
According to Cheema, the operation was being conducted in a manner to minimise collateral damage.
“The situation has considerably improved and most of the areas have been cleared of the militants, enabling local residents to resume their normal activities,” he said.
Cheema said the civil administration, which had been thrown into disarray after militants made inroads in the area, was now functioning normally in Swat and Shangla, and that the government’s writ would soon be established in other areas.
“Now the people of Swat are in the vanguard and working with the security forces,” the official maintained.
Speaking about security arrangements and transparency during the general elections, Cheema pointed out that the government had already said it would welcome international observers and media personnel to monitor the electoral process.
“The government would facilitate the observers to monitor the polls on the ground across the length and breadth of the country,” he added.
The provincial governments and security personnel have also been asked to provide all possible facilities to the observers and media persons, the official said.