By NNN-Xinhua,
Islamabad : Hundreds of suspects were arrested in Pakistan as police cracked down upon attacks launched by militants across the country, local TV channel reports Thursday.
Two alleged terrorists were arrested Thursday evening from Pakistan’s capital of Islamabad, according to local TV ARY News.
One suspect, 70, was captured from Sector I-9 in Islamabad with makeshift suicide jackets attached with his waist, while another was arrested with 800 rounds of bullets strapped to his body. Police also seized maps of main installations of Islamabad and many weapons.
It was yet to be ascertained which site in the capital the bomber had planned to hit. Police have shifted the suspects to a local police station under strict surveillance for further investigations, the channel added.
After a series of attacks in the federal capital, Islamabad police, after tightening the security cover in the city, have started combing exercise in the slum as well as jungle areas and also arrested 80 suspects, police source said earlier Thursday.
He said that leaves of policemen had been canceled and were instructed to remain vigilant against the suspects. The slum areas at Dhok Kashmirian, Mira Jaffer, Mira Badia, Golra, I-11 and other areas are being searched for the arrest of suspects.
The Anti-terrorist squads (ATS) have been deployed to ensure foolproof security around the important buildings and sensitive installations in the city. The contingents of ATS would also patrol in various sectors and would conduct surprise checking.
Meanwhile, the police spokesman said that security in Islamabad has been tightened and suspected persons and vehicles are being checked. Policemen on horse backs have started patrolling in jungle areas as well as rough routes.
Islamabad police have also appealed the citizens to cooperate with police and inform Rescue 15 or police stations in case of observing any suspect.
Keeping in view the rising security threats, the Supreme Court of Pakistan has also deployed Rangers, commandos and special police guards in and outside the court premises in Islamabad.
According to a court press release issued Thursday, no one would be allowed to enter the judges block without prior permission from the special police guards.
Besides, the private channel Dunya News quoting police sources reported that 115 suspects were arrested during the search operation in different areas of Rawalpindi, the garrison city near Islamabad, and most of the arrested persons are Afghanis or tribalmen from Bajaur and Khyber tribal agency.
Karachi police also arrested three suspected persons including a Saudi citizen.
Three unknown armed miscreants riding motorcycle opened fire on an army jeep early Thursday morning leaving two military personnel including a brigadier dead. Security are beefed up at all exit and entry points in Islamabad after the attack.
Two days earlier twin blasts occurred in a university in the capital, leaving at least nine people dead and dozens injured.
Pakistani Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik said Tuesday that Pakistan is in state of war and the extremists want to destabilize the country with their attacks.
Pakistani security forces launched military operation in South Waziristan tribal agency bordering Afghanistan in early Oct. 17 morning. The army said that about 30,000 soldiers are in place to take on an estimated 10,000 hard-core Taliban militants in the lawless area.
At least 10 people were injured in a blast Friday in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar, according to local TV reports.
The private Dawn TV quoted police sources as saying that three of the injured were in critical condition.
Reports said the blast occurred near a restaurant and one suspect has been arrested on the site.
Witnesses said that it seems to be a car bomb but police said that the nature of the blast has yet to be determined.
Gunshots were heard after the blast. Bomb disposal squads are rushing to the site.
The injured have been brought to local hospitals, where emergency has been declared.