PESHAWAR, Sept 29: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to launch a targeted operation in Peshawar and other parts of the province after a flurry of suicide bombings over the past one week left more than 140 people dead and hundreds injured.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting presided over by Chief Secretary Arbab Muhammad Shehzad here on Sunday evening.

The meeting was attended by provincial police officer Nasir Khan Durrani, officials of the lith Corps, Frontier Corps, Frontier Constabulary and several intelligence agencies.

Home Secretary Syed Akhtar Ali Shah told journalists that Peshawar would be divided into at least four zones and police would carry out a targeted operation.

According to him, other lawenforcement agencies would be `ready to move formation` to assist police, if required.

He said a task force would work out some shortand long-term plans and measures to counter terrorism. The task force will comprise personnel of lith Corps, paramilitary f orces, police and intelligence outfits.

He added that different organisations would share intelligence.

Mr Shah said that the task force would start functioning immediately. Similarly, he said, there would be another task force for the provincial capital.

Sources privy to the meeting told Dawn that the highlevel meeting was informed that militant groups based in Mohmand Agency adjacent to Peshawar were believed to be involved in recent attacks at public and religious places.

The attacks were a continuation of the acts of terrorism taking place over the past decade.

Mr Shah said that the pattern of the terror attacks was identical. According to him, the government had also decided to mobilise the masses and make them aware of security threats at bus stands and in hotels and other public places. Responding to another question, he said a high-level meeting would be held in Peshawar on Monday to recommend some important steps. He said that Chief Minister Pervez Khattak would also attend the meeting.

A government handout said that Governor Shaukatullah and Peshawar Corps Commander Lt-Gen Khalid Rabbani would also attend the meeting.