Zarb-i-Azb: Two more militant strongholds cleared in NWA

ISLAMABAD: After Miramshah, two important villages of North Waziristan Boya and Degan, which were known to be strongholds of local and foreign militants, have been cleared by Pakistani armed forces.

“Consolidation of Boya and Degan is in progress,” said a press release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Saturday.

This information, however, could not be independently verified.

Terrorists are being eliminated and dislodged from their bases in North Waziristan as the operation progresses as per plan, said the statement.

The press release said that house to house search in Mussaki, Hurmez and Mirali Bazar was being carried out by integrated group of forces.

Terrorists holed up inside Mirali and surrounding areas have been firing rockets and mortars and using heavy machine guns and sniper rifles, said the statement, adding that four terrorists were killed during an exchange of fire last night.

According to ISPR, 12 IEDs were neutralised last night alone, while an IED making factory, huge cache of arms and ammunition and foreign currency were also recovered.

Corps Commander Lieutenant General Khalid Rabbani also visited Mirali, Boya and Degan areas of North Waziristan Agency earlier today and met with the Army troops.

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Counter-terror measure: Nadra, police begin data collection survey in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: In a bid to closely monitor terror activity in the capital, the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and police have started a data survey for all residents on Saturday.

The surveys will be collected to create a comprehensive database — including the residents' family connections — which is expected to help security officials in countering terrorist and criminal activities.

In order to carry out the survey effectively, at least 40 Nadra-police coordinated teams are assigned for the job.

According to media reports, the survey will be completed in two months' time.

The survey will not only include urban areas but identification data on residents from Islamabad’s remote areas will also be collected, so people can be traced if there is suspicion of involvement in terrorism.

In April this year, a report jointly prepared by the Rawalpindi and Islamabad police claimed that the outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was getting active support from hardliner religious seminaries to carry out terrorist attacks in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

In the same month, a deadly terrorist attack in the Sabzi Mandi area of the capital city killed at least 24 people and wounded more than 115.

In March, at least 11 people, including additional sessions judge Rafaqat Awan, were killed and 29 others wounded during a gun and bomb attack in a court in the capital city’s F-8 area.

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SBP leaves policy rate

SBP leaves policy rate unchanged at 10 per cent

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's central bank decided to leave its key policy rate unchanged at 10 per cent for the subsequent two months, the State Bank of Pakistan said in a statement on Saturday.

In recent months the rupee has remained stable as Pakistan has rebuilt its foreign exchange reserves following the successful sale of a $2 billion Eurobond, an auction of 3G and 4G phone licences, and an injection of cash from bilateral and multilateral lenders.

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