Terrorism claimed 2,686 lives in Pakistan in 2009

Islamabad, Aug. 14 (ANI): Pakistan has witnessed a whopping 1,367 terror-related incidents this year, which killed 2,686 people and destroyed property worth 9,321 million, Pakistan's Interior Ministry has said.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik told the parliament in a written statement that 67 incidents of terrorism took place in Punjab, 36 in Sindh, 544 in NWFP, 331 in Balochistan, 9 in the federal capital and 380 in FATA.

The Nation quoted Interior Ministry's statement, as saying that 240 people were martyred in Punjab, 28 in Sindh, 1,285 in NWFP, 337 in Balochistan, 73 in Islamabad Capital Territory and 723 in FATA.

Responding to another query, Interior Ministry stated that 4,811 persons were convicted for human smuggling in the year 2008, while in 2007 they were 5022 cases.

According to data provided to the Lower House, 8,208 cases of human smuggling were forwarded in 2008, 7029 in 2007, 6,245 in 2006, 4,641 in 2005 and 3,566 in 2004.

As many as 277 people were acquitted in 2008, 216 in 2007, 262 in 2006, 180 in 2005 and 117 in 2004 from human trafficking allegations. (ANI)