Senate was informed on Friday that 823 terrorists have been killed during operation Rah-e-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."
He also mentioned to presence of local as well as foreigners in South Waziristan, including those affiliated to al Qaeda, with their headquarter in Makin from where all the 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 whom the government had declared terrorists. "I am even ready to present the list of 100. Give me time by Monday or Tuesday."
To a question about killing of civilians, he said, announcement was made for the people to leave the area prior to start of operation. But, those who did not for the reason that either they did not want to leave their area or sided with terrorists.
He quoted the example of Mohmand Agency where Maulvi Faqir Muhammad and Qari Ziaur Rehman were found from the home of a civilian.
"If the people do not leave the area and are hit during the operation, it is not our fault. Even though we tried that no innocent is killed during the operation," he added.
The minister said, those who raped women, burnt schools and buildings and hanged people, cannot be innocent people. They were terrorists and the operation was against them.