NWFP government wants Swat operation to be 'more effective'

Peshawar, Dec.21 (ANI): Alarmed at the recent surge in militant activities, the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) government in Pakistan has demanded the federal government to make the Swat operation 'more effective'.

"The operation must be made effective," the Daily Times quoted Information Minister Iftikhar Hussain, as saying.

A meeting of the NWFP cabinet, headed by Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti was called to discuss the security situation in the province."The meeting observed that Swat operation was not bearing the desired results and innocent people were being killed in most cases instead of those involved in terrorist activities," Hussain said.

Decisions were taken in the meeting for upgradation of police force by providing them with state-of-the-art gadgets. Cabinet allocated 70 million rupees for the purpose.

The cabinet also approved of increasing the strength of Elite police force and give police a free hand to take action against kidnappers.

"Police would be allowed to act freely to secure citizens against gangsters and abductors," he said.

2,500 personnel would be recruited in the police for the purpose.

The cabinet also demanded a special package from the federal government to buy latest weapons and intelligence equipment.

In another important decision the NWFP government decided to restrict supplies to NATO forces in Afghanistan and decided to allow only 200 containers to be docked at Peshawar's terminals at a time. (ANI)