Islamabad police arrests 32 in search operation

ISLAMABAD: Thirty-two people were arrested on Thursday during a search operation carried out by Islamabad Police in parts of the federal capital. The police conducted the operation as US Secretary of State John Kerry was visiting the capital for meetings with the country's top civil and military leadership. Along with arresting 32 people, the police also apprehended 48 beggars from parts of the city and also seized 135 motorbikes and seven cars which were either unregistered or lacking in requisite paperwork. While a number of search operations have been carried out in the city in the recent past, today’s action can also likely be in relation to Kerry’s visit, who has already shortened his stay in Pakistan due to security reasons. Kerry had originally planned to spend a few days in the country, but is now expected to spend only a day in the capital. Diplomatic sources had told Dawn Monday’s attack on a prison in Dera Ismail Khan contributed to the decision to reduce Kerry’s stay in Islamabad. The city houses the Presidency, the Parliament and the Supreme Court and authorities in the past have also claimed to have foiled attacks on the Parliament which lies adjacent to Aiwan-i-Sadr. Islamabad has also witnessed terrorist attacks in the past, among which the bombing targeting the Marriott Hotel remains the most well-known.