PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police is going to vacate at least four police stations in outskirts of Peshawar due to threats of terrorist attacks and to enable joint forces carry out targeted operation against the militants. Highly-placed sources told Pakistan Today that after pullout of police force, targeted operation could be carried out in jurisdiction of police stations Matani, Badhabher, Nasar Pur and Mathra. So far, the Peshawar police has picked up around 40 suspects, including some alleged terrorists, from certain hamlets and villages on Warsak Road. Sources said the decision pertaining to the targeted operation was made by high-ups in the wake of recent terrorist acts in and around Peshawar. The police is being withdrawn due to unrest erupted amongst them due to the recent attacks.
On the other hand, the high-ups of police force are also unhappy due to confusing policies on the part of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led coalition government. Since coming to power, a number of high-ranking civil and police officers have refused to serve at important offices in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Amongst them are former interior secretary Mohammad Azam Khan and former capital city police chiefs Liaqat Ali Khan and Mohammad Ali Babakhel.
The sources said the joint operation could be carried out through five platoons of Frontier Corps, 15 platoons of Frontier Constabulary and 10 platoons of Quick Response and Elite Forces. Armed forces would remain alert during the joint operation and could be called in case of resistance by militants. A number of Armored Personnel Carriers (APC) will be at disposal of the joint forces, while two military helicopters would also remain on air patrolling in the targeted area.
