ISLAMABAD, Jan 29 (APP): Advisor to Prime Minister on Interior A. Rehman Malik Thursday told the Upper House of the Parliament that 11,111 foreigners were arrested during last five years on various charges. Replying to a question of Muhammad Talha Mahmood during question hour he said 8,830 were arrested from NWFP, 1,369 from Sindh, 829 from Punjab and 83 from Balochistan.

However, he did not mention the charges on which these foreigners were arrested. Malik said the activities of all foreigners are monitored.

Regarding suicide attack at Marriott Hotel, the Advisor said the linkage with terrorist network has been identified, while the law enforcement agencies have also recovered the vehicle used for escorting the suicidal truck.

He further told that four accused have been arrested while three are still at large. The challan against the arrested accused has been filed in the trial court, he added.

Replying to a question of Dr. Khalid Mehmood Soomro, Malik said there are seven paramilitary forces in the country including Frontier Corps (NWFP),Frontier Corps (Balochistan), Pakistan Rangers (Sindh), Pakistan Rangers (Punjab), Pakistan Coast Guards, Northern Area Scouts and Frontier Constabulary NWFP.

Malik informed the House that 19,184 different posts are lying vacant in Pakistan Rangers (Punjab), 2,901 in Rangers Sindh, 1,850 in Frontier Constabulary NWFP, 7,923 in Frontier Corps in NWFP, 473 in Pakistan Coast Guards, one in Northern Area Scouts and 402 posts of janitors are lying vacant in Frontier Corps Balochistan.

He informed the House that there is no quota fixed for the people of Balochistan in Frontier Corps (FC) Balochistan, while on contrary the enrolment in FC NWFP is carried out purely from tribes residing in NWFP, FATA and Mianwali only.

Malik said, he has taken up the matter with Prime Minister for recruitment of people of Balochistan in FC Balochistan on the pattern of FC NWFP.

He further said that literacy rate in Balochistan is low therefore the required educational qualification for recruitment in FC Balochistan would also be reduced for the people of the province.

To another question, Malik informed the House that as many as 3,016 people were kidnapped for ransom during last 10 years (January 1999 to September 2008). Out of these 198 people were killed by kidnappers, while the police succeeded in recovering 2,666 persons from kidnappers, he added.

Police arrested 4,421 persons on charge of kidnapping for ransom during the

same period, besides, 1,687 cases were challaned in the courts.