Punjab CTD arrests 13 suspected terrorists in province-wide crackdown

LAHORE: The Punjab Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on Saturday claimed to have foiled a major terror plot by arresting 13 suspected terrorists belonging to various banned organisations during week-long intelligence-based operations (IBOs) conducted across the province.

According to a CTD spokesperson, the department carried out 58 intelligence-based operations in various districts to avert possible terrorist activities. The operations were conducted in Lahore, Jhang, Sahiwal, Jhelum, Chiniot, Mandi Bahauddin and Mianwali.

During the operations, 58 suspects were interrogated, and 13 alleged terrorists were taken into custody along with arms, explosives, and other prohibited materials.

The spokesperson said the suspects were associated with Fitna al Khawarij and other banned organisations.

Fitna al Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.

Among those arrested, Khawarij Mukhtar Ahmed was apprehended from Lahore along with a large quantity of explosives.

The CTD said it had recovered 2,010 grams of explosives, eight detonators, 15 feet of safety fuse wire, four improvised explosive devices (IEDs), as well as pamphlets and magazines of banned organisations, prima cards, mobile phones and cash from the suspects.

According to the spokesperson, the suspected terrorists were allegedly planning to target law enforcement agency offices.

He said 13 cases had been registered against the arrested suspects on terrorism charges, while further investigations were underway.

The spokesperson further said that the CTD, in coordination with local police and other security agencies, conducted 1,487 combing operations across the province, during which 53,335 individuals were checked, 168 suspects were arrested, 153 FIRs were registered, and 150 recoveries were made.

On March 28, the CTD reported that it had detained 36 terrorists as part of a province-wide crackdown.

In mid-February, the Punjab CTD claimed to have arrested 26 suspected terrorists across the province over the previous month.

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