MANSEHRA: The Mansehra police are in the process of employing over 800 former military personnel to protect the Karakoram Highway in the district.

`We`re holding test and interviews of former army men for over 800 positions in the Karakoram Highway patrolling police. This recruitment will help ensure the safety of the highway users both locals and foreigners in Mansehra district,` said district police officer Ahsan Saifullah after a mock operation by the Quick Response Unit of theMansehra police at the Pakistan Scouts Cadet College Batrasi on Friday.

The operation was carried out to clear the premises after a mock terrorist attack.

The Quick Response Unit personnel killed an attacker and captured four before announcing the completion of the operation shouting the `Allah-o-Akbar` and`Pakistan Zindabad` slogans.

The DPO told participants that the police would never allow terrorists to enforce their ideology on the people through attacks like the one carried out ageist the Charsadda university of late.

He said Pakistanis were ready to face enemies on all fronts and the mock operation was a little exhibition of their resolve to challenge enemies bravely.

`We have initiated a series of mock exercises to clear educational institutions in the district of terrorists. After the Hazara University and Pakistan Scouts Cadet College Batrasi, more educational institutions will see such exercises on their premises,` he said.

Mr. Saifullah said though regular security and law-enforcement forces was ready to give a befitting response to the country`s enemies in case of any adventurism, mock security drills gave them a good opportunity to increase their preparedness for emergency.

Assistant superintendent of police Sonia Shimroz Khan, who led the mock operation, said the country`s enemies had announced they would target soft targets like educational institutions but the nation had made it clear to them that they were ready to take them on.

`Men and women are ready to safeguard the motherland and its ideology and will go to any extent for it,` she said.

Vice principal of the college Taqueerul Islam praised the police for ensuring foolproof security oncampus.

He said the college`s administration was prepared to foil terrorist threats.

`We`ve established security posts and employedformer military personnel for the protection of students and staff members. Having said that, we must appreciate the role of the police for our security,` he said.