Militant camps destroyed in gunship raids

SWAT—The spokesman of ISPR, Maj. Gen Waheed Arshad has announced the destruction of many hideouts of militants in the troubled region of Swat. Talking to a private TV channel he also announced killing of 4 miscreants while five have been reported injured, in an attack on their hideouts by Pakistan army on Tuesday, while heavy amount of their weapons was also seized.
A check post of the miscreants was also blown away by helicopter gunships, which also injured five of the miscreants. He informed that hideouts of miscreants in the region of shakardara and Bara Banda were also targeted, and four were arrested in the region of Chakdara. He vowed to carry out military operations till complete elimination of terrorists.
Government is determined to establish its writ in Swat while Frontier Corps, Frontier Constabulary and police would now work under army and steps would be taken, in consultation with provincial and district administration, to bring the intolerable state of affairs to an end soon.
In a weekly news briefing here on Tuesday, Interior Ministry spokesman Brigadier Javed Iqbal Cheema said the NWFP government on Monday requisitioned Pakistan Army to help maintain law and order in Swat. He said army was present in Swat since July but for unknown reasons the previous provincial government did not requisition the army as per legal requirement.
Replying a question, he said there are reasons to believe that some of those released in Lal Masjid case are involved in Swat situation.
He said that there are credible intelligence reports that terrorist groups and various other extremist elements are out to target PPP Chairperson Benazir Benazir Bhutto. “There is real threat to her life,” he said. The spokesman said the government is taking exceptional security measures to ward off threat and ensure her safety. The government, he said, is constantly sensitizing Benazir Bhutto through her security advisor not to have long public exposure.
Referring to her seven day detention and measures taken to prevent the planned long march of the party, he said the government had the options of allowing her to proceed on her own risk or restrained her from this activity. The government opted for the second option, as it cannot absolve itself of the primary responsibility of ensure security of its citizens, he added. He said the terrorist threat is real as the President, the Prime Minister, Interior Minister and Minister for Political Affairs too were targeted.
The spokesman said that government is determined to eliminate terrorist and extremist threat and create enabling environment for holding of elections in a peaceful atmosphere. He, however, reminded that it is also duty of the political parties to extend their cooperation in this regard to ensure peaceful transition.
Responding to a question, he said that there was no restriction on the movement of foreign journalists but they should better coordinate their plans with the Ministry of Information and Interior before going to troubled areas.
He said since proclamation of emergency the law and order situation remains within acceptable limits. He said in all about 3000 persons including political activists and lawyers were arrested after imposition of emergency. He said they would soon be released and hoped that all of them would not be behind bars at the time of electioneering.
Replying to a question, the spokesman said that Frontier Corps and Rangers have been assigned anti-smuggling task and on Monday alone the Frontier Corps confiscated over 764,000 kilograms of flour which was being smuggled to Afghanistan. He said actions would also be taken against smugglers. —Agencies