No respite: Govt clamps down on Afghan mobile connections
Around 190 suspects arrested in Khyber Agency
Security forces and khasadar personnel arrested 40 suspects in a joint search operation in Shahkas during the wee hours of Saturday. PHOTO: INP
LANDIKOTAL:
Amid the ongoing search and strike operations against militants in different areas of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Fata, the government has also decided to clamp down upon the usage and sale of Afghan mobile connections.
Khyber Agency’s political administration initiated a crackdown against shopkeepers selling Afghan SIM cards in Torkham. Seven shops were sealed during the operation, an administration official confirmed on Saturday. The shopkeepers were allegedly selling Afghan mobile connections to locals and Pakistani SIM cards to Afghan refugees entering Pakistan at Torkham. Warnings have been issued to all shopkeepers in Landikotal and further action is imminent.
Meanwhile, around 150 suspects were arrested during fresh sweeps. The detained Afghan nationals have been deported while a few have been shifted to an unknown location for interrogation. Amongst them, two were arrested from a mosque in Sheikh Mal Khel.
Bara
Aided by security forces, the political administration has started establishing new checkpoints along different routes of the tehsil. The measures are being taken in connection with the repatriation of displaced tribesmen and the reopening of schools. Voluntary rehabilitation is already under way while educational institutions are slated to reopen from January 12.
Jamrud
Security forces and khasadar personnel arrested 40 suspects in a joint search operation in Shahkas during the wee hours of Saturday. Forces cordoned the area off and conducted a door-to-door sweep following a tip-off. The detainees were shifted to an undisclosed location for further interrogation. The operation lasted for two hours during which all routes leading to Shahkas were barricaded. Afghan nationals were also among those detained.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 4th, 2015.
Amid the ongoing search and strike operations against militants in different areas of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Fata, the government has also decided to clamp down upon the usage and sale of Afghan mobile connections.
Khyber Agency’s political administration initiated a crackdown against shopkeepers selling Afghan SIM cards in Torkham. Seven shops were sealed during the operation, an administration official confirmed on Saturday. The shopkeepers were allegedly selling Afghan mobile connections to locals and Pakistani SIM cards to Afghan refugees entering Pakistan at Torkham. Warnings have been issued to all shopkeepers in Landikotal and further action is imminent.
Meanwhile, around 150 suspects were arrested during fresh sweeps. The detained Afghan nationals have been deported while a few have been shifted to an unknown location for interrogation. Amongst them, two were arrested from a mosque in Sheikh Mal Khel.
Bara
Aided by security forces, the political administration has started establishing new checkpoints along different routes of the tehsil. The measures are being taken in connection with the repatriation of displaced tribesmen and the reopening of schools. Voluntary rehabilitation is already under way while educational institutions are slated to reopen from January 12.
Jamrud
Security forces and khasadar personnel arrested 40 suspects in a joint search operation in Shahkas during the wee hours of Saturday. Forces cordoned the area off and conducted a door-to-door sweep following a tip-off. The detainees were shifted to an undisclosed location for further interrogation. The operation lasted for two hours during which all routes leading to Shahkas were barricaded. Afghan nationals were also among those detained.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 4th, 2015.