Post-Osama killing in Abbottabad: Pak arrests 25 suspects

Islamabad, May 7: Pakistani intelligence and security agencies have conducted a sweep in the garrison city of Abbottabad, where al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden was killed in a US raid on Monday, and arrested at least 25 suspects.

The 25 suspects were taken into custody from the areas of Nawashehar, Kakul village, Nadian and Thanda Choha near Abbottabad yesterday, DawnNews channel reported.

The search operation was conducted to deal with the potential consequences of the US military operation in Abbottabad, the channel said.

A local politician claimed the security forces had rounded up "hundreds of people" during the search operation. There was no official word on the number of arrests.

Lala Ali Afzal Jadoon, a former minister and resident of Abbottabad, told Arab News daily that security personnel combed madrassas, schools, hospitals and markets and arrested hundreds of people.

Before the search was launched, members of the media were "driven out of the city," Arab News reported.

Other reports said the Interior Ministry had banned the entry of all foreign journalists to Abbottabad because of the security situation.

PTI