ISLAMABAD - Islamabad Capital Territory Police on Sunday arrested 70 suspects from outskirts of the federal metropolis, mostly Afghan nationals who failed to provide documents attesting their legal stay in Pakistan.
The inspector general of ICT police ordered for the operation, police said. Unveiling details of operation, a police spokesperson said police teams backed by the commandos launched search operation on Sunday and rounded up over 100 suspects and recovered weapons from Afghan camps near Islamabad's Sabzi Mandi area on Sunday.
Officials said that a strong contingent of 400 police and commandos conducted search operation here at sector I-11. They said huge cache of arms including Kalashnikovs, submachine guns, pistols, fake number plates of vehicles and two stolen motorbikes have been recovered.
SSP Dr Rizwan, who himself supervised the search operation, told media that the operation was being conducted on a tip-off in two large Afghan localities at sector I-11 against the criminals and several suspects have been taken into custody on the information of intelligence sources, he added.
It is worth mentioning here that search operation of police teams is an old practice. Last week, ICT police claimed in a crackdown against drug pushers, bootleggers and those possessing illegal weapons, it recovered 768 kilograms hashish, 26 kilograms heroin, 20 kilograms opium, 12,700 wine bottles, 34 Kalashnikovs, 37 rifles, 96 guns, 695 pistols and 15, 500 rounds.
Contrary to the loud claims made by the Islamabad police, the residents of Islamabad continued to live under stress due to increasing number of incidents relating to car theft, burglary, kidnapping for ransom and extortion. According to sources, 17 residents of Islamabad (mostly businessmen) were kidnapped by unidentified groups this year (January 15 to September 2013) from different parts of capital city. Mostly managed to get release by paying handsome amount of ransom.
According to independent sources, residents of Islamabad are being deprived of 5 vehicles per day. However, Islamabad capital territory police still continue to claim that crime rate was decreasing.