Counter-terrorism: Relative peace returns to Peshawar

"Law enforcement agencies are waging a war against terrorists in the frontline," SSP (Operations) Tahir Ayub.

PESHAWAR:

Law and order situation has improved in the provincial metropolis as the police, Frontier Corps, Frontier Constabulary are doing everything in their power to fight militancy in the city.

Senior Superintendent of Police (Operations) Tahir Ayub said joint efforts by the police, paramilitary and army and other law-enforcement agencies (LEA) have forced terrorists to decamp from Peshawar. “The city had become a haven for suicide bombers.”

The frequency of suicide attacks has decreased to a large extent in the city, he said. “A number of police and LEA officials have rendered sacrifices for restoring stability in the region.”

Intelligence agencies are chasing terrorists in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, he added.  He said LEA were waging a war against terrorists in the frontline and maintained that the police would do all they can to make Peshawar a fortress of peace. “There are black sheep everywhere and action will be taken against them.”

Amir Hussain, Lecturer, University of Peshawar, said there was a time when bomb blasts had become the order of the day but now normalcy has returned to the area. “The credit for peace and tranquillity in the city goes to the police and law-enforcement agencies.” Javed Akhtar, president of Kareem Pura bazaar, said that few months back Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa particularly Peshawar, once known as the city of flowers was considered a hotbed for terrorists and frequent blasts especially on Friday had created a sense of insecurity. “Frequent bomb blasts had brought business activities to a standstill in the city.” K-P police has shown commendable performance in curbing crimes which has helped lower the sense of insecurity among people.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 15^th, 2011.