LAHORE: The first batch of 435 corporals, including women, will complete its specialized training in January next year and immediately start working for their counter-terrorism department.

The first batch comprising 500 people was selected from all over the province, but 65 of them either did not report for training or abandoned it af terwards.

Home Minister Shuja Khanzada told Dawn on Friday that 15 per cent of the total corporals were women and they were performing excellently during the training.

The corporals are being trained for intelligence, investigation and operations against terrorists. The women corporals will serve in the intelligence and investigation wings despite the desire of most of them to also join the operation wing.

The second batch of 450 corporals will be in the field in March next year and the third and the last of 500 members two months later.

Khanzada said the corporals would be deputed all over the province and buildings were being arranged for them. `Everything, including weapons, electronic gadgets and offices, will be ready for them by the time they complete their training,` he said.