[Dawn] Senate was informed Friday that 823 terrorists were killed during Operation Rah-i-Nijat in South Waziristan.Interior Minister Rehman Malik giving day-wise details during Question Hour said since October 17, 2009 till February 20, 2010 terrorists were killed on most of the days to clear the area.
He rejected the claims of the members about the figure and said he cannot go by the media reports to reveal the figure.
"What I have stated on floor of the House is an official figure and I own it," Malik said.
He also mentioned the presence of local as well as foreign militants in South Waziristan, including those affiliated with Al-Qaeda, with their headquarter in Makin from where suicide attacks on civilians and military installations were planned and executed.
Malik also accepted the challenge of a member to provide the list of at least 50 killed in operation that the government had declared terrorists.
"I am even ready to present the list of 100. Give me time by Monday or Tuesday," he said.
To a question about civilian casualties, he said announcements were made for the people to leave the areas prior to the start of the operation. But, those who did not leave either did not want to leave or they were siding with the terrorists.
He quoted the example of Mohmand Agency where Maulvi Faqir Mohammad and Qari Ziaur Rehman were found from a civilian's home.
"If the people do not leave the area and are hit during the operation, it is not our fault. We tried that no innocent was killed during the operation," he added.
The minister said those who raped women, burnt schools and buildings and hanged people cannot be innocent. They were terrorists and the operation was against them, Malik concluded.