Police crackdown: Several criminals arrested

GILGIT: Police in Gilgit have linked ongoing peace in the region with the arrest of several proclaimed offenders. “The situation has improved considerably in the last two or three months,” said Superintendent Police (SP) Ali Zia while addressing reporters during a press briefing at his office on Thursday. He said police were conducting raids on suspected hideouts in order to give the accused a tough time, adding that they had prepared a list of 40 to 50 wanted criminals. “Last night, we arrested three high-profile suspects as they entered the city,” said Zia. One of the accused, Azhar Hussain, was involved in the murder of a DSP while another, Sher Jehan, operated in the southern parts of the country. Zia maintained the police had increased patrolling and security checks at certain locations. He claimed personal enmities between individuals along with sectarian differences led to violence in the city.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 22^nd, 2013.