Army launches search operation in Mardan, Swabi

MARDAN: The Pakistan Army personnel, assisted by the police and intelligence agencies, conducted search operations in Mardan and Swabi districts and arrested dozens of suspects.

According to an official statement, about 168 suspects were arrested during operations in Mardan and Swabi.On the basis of input provided by the intelligence agencies, the army conducted search operation at Jalala camp of Afghan refugees and surrounding areas in Mardan. The statement said 430 houses were searched and 139 suspects were arrested.

The weapons seized during the action included 15 pistols, 12 rifles, one sub-machinegun, one MP5 and ammunitions of different types. Meanwhile, the statement said the army personnel during the search operation in Swabi district arrested about 29 suspects from Malakabad, Topi and surrounding areas. The soldiers recovered 20 pistols with 60 rounds, six SMGs, 200 rounds of SMGs along with eight magazines, one binocular, 17 cartridges of 12 bore, and one belt box of light machine gun.

The statement said the search operations are part of the National Action Plan chalked out in the wake of the December 2014 terrorist attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar. It pointed out that those detained were being interrogated and it would lead to more such operations and improvement in the law and order situation. The operation is still underway, the statement added.