As the police powers given to the Frontier Corps expired on Saturday after a period of two months, the Balochistan government approved a nine-month extension in the special role of the paramilitary force.
In view of the unrest and sectarian violence in the provincial capital, the provincial government had devolved the police authority to the FC on September 2, 2012, authorising them to search for the suspects.
Inspector General of the Frontier Corps (IGFC) Major General Obaidullah Khan Khattak claimed that incidents of violence had declined by 60 percent in Quetta after FC were given police authority by the provincial government.
He thanked the provincial government for its confidence in the paramilitary force. “Maintaining peace in Balochistan is our priority, and we would always be supporting the provincial government when called in,” he said.
The FC has carried out about 26 search operations against outlaws in Quetta, and handed over 154 suspects after arresting them from various localities in the province, Obaidullah said. “Some 96 weapons of different types, 4,500 rounds of ammunition, 350 kg explosive, and 3,500 detonators were also seized in various raids, he added. He said that after the Supreme Court’s directives, 709 vehicles and hundreds of motorbikes were seized and handed over to Customs for further investigation. Tinted glasses from 3,800 vehicles were also removed, he added.
