ISLAMABAD, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Police in Pakistan have arrested the mastermind of two bomb blasts in the northwestern city of Peshawar, the provincial police chief said Tuesday.

    Malik Naveed said the suspect is being questioned for his role in two blasts, one in the busy Khyber Bazaar earlier this month killing around 50 persons, and the second in a restaurant in posh Hayatabad locality last week injuring several persons.

    Over 70 persons have been killed in five bomb blasts in Peshawar in a month, according to police data.

    The police chief told reporters that raids are being conducted to arrest other people involved in the blasts.

    Naveed said that dozens of suspects of bomb blasts and suicide attacks are already in police custody. He said the police have recovered huge quantity of explosives during the search operation.

    He said that the situation is under control in Peshawar despite major military operations in South Waziristan tribal region, adding that some people were saying that bomb blasts will increase after the Waziristan offensive.

    He said that a comprehensive plan is being chalked out for security of the educational institutions and the teachers and parents are consulted.

    The series of bomb blasts in Peshawar have created fear among the people and the government has closed down all schools and educational institutions.