LAHORE: The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on Saturday arrested 13 suspected militants linked to banned organisations in province-wide operations. The Punjab CTD spokesperson said a total of 55 intelligence-based operations were executed in various districts as part of their proactive strategy to combat terrorism. These operations resulted in the interrogation of 58 individuals, leading to the arrest of 13 alleged militants. The detainees were found in possession of weapons, explosives and other prohibited materials, according to the spokesperson. The arrested suspects were identified as Jalat Khan, Jannat Khan, Kashf Rasool, Israr Khan, Sahibzada Nazir, Abdul Salam, Aamir Khan, Asadullah Muawiya, Ameer Khan, Mumtaz Khan, Anwar Khan and Ghulam Rehman. They have alleged affiliations with banned organisations, including Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, Daesh, Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan and Al-Qaeda.
These arrests were carried out during intelligence-based operations conducted in Lahore, Bahawalpur, Gujranwala, Mandi Bahauddin, Rawalpindi, Chiniot, Kasur and Multan. The confiscated items included 2.36kg of explosives, one IED bomb, 11 detonators, 26 feet of protective fuse wire, one pistol (30 bore), six bullets, four flags, 71 pamphlets related to banned organisations, 93 stickers and Rs46,475 in cash. The CTD spokesperson revealed that the arrested militants had plotted to carry out acts of sabotage across the province, targeting crucial installations. In response, the police have registered 10 cases against these individuals in various cities, including Lahore, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Sheikhopura, Bahawalpur, and Multan. The suspects have been relocated to an undisclosed location for further investigation.
During the past week, a total of 339 combing operations were conducted with the cooperation of local law enforcement agencies and security personnel. These operations resulted in the checking of 4,113 individuals, the arrest of 34 suspects, the registration of 26 FIRs, and the recovery of various items. The Counter Terrorism Department remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of the province’s residents.
(Daily Dawn)
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