PESHAWAR: Police has stepped up combing efforts on the outskirts of Peshawar, following reports of terrorists’ entry into the provincial capital city for targeting upcoming Muharram processions and gatherings.

Peshawar's Capital City Police Officer Ijaz Ahmed Khan told Dawn.com that a joint sting operation of police, Army and Frontier Corps started in the city as there was ample information available on the entry of terrorists seeking entry to conduct possible attacks and that scores of suspects were apprehended whereas weapons and ammunition were also seized from them.

On Saturday morning, the joint task force conducted a search operation in Badaber area on the outskirts of Peshawar and arrested 46 suspects.

Police sources also claimed to have recovered two AK-47 rifles, eight pistols, seven 8 mm rifles, and a huge quantity of ammunition from the arrested individuals.

Superintendent of Police Rural Rahim Shah said Badaber, Mattani, Adezai, the belt bordering the tribal areas of Bara and Khyber agency were volatile and the points of focus of the clampdown to stop the infiltration of militants into Peshawar.

CCPO Ijaz Ahmed said that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government's directives regarding illegal and non-registered tenants was very clear, adding that there would be zero tolerance if anyone was found residing without registration and proper documentation.

More than 300 suspects have been arrested in the ongoing operation including some hardened criminals while verification of tenants in Peshawar also continued in order to clamp down on illegal residents.