On Saturday, the Punjab Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) announced the arrest of 18 terrorists during a series of intelligence-based operations (IBOs) throughout the province.
In a detailed statement, the CTD reported that a total of 134 IBOs were conducted in various districts, including Lahore, Khushab, Gujranwala, Pakpattan, Bahawalnagar, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Sheikhupura, Mandi Bahauddin, and Mianwali.
The operations led to the apprehension of 18 identified terrorists, including individuals named Faiz, Azim, Tariq, Asif, Irfan, Ehsan, and Fateh, who were linked to groups such as Fitna-al-Khawarij (Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan), the Islamic State (Daesh), and Al-Qaeda.
Additionally, 134 suspects were interrogated, and 17 cases were registered against the arrested terrorists, who are now under investigation.
The CTD’s recovery efforts were significant, yielding a cache of weapons, 5,429 grams of explosives, 18 detonators, a 53-foot safety fuse wire, one IED bomb, several pistols with ammunition, 48 pamphlets from banned organizations, two mobile phones, and cash amounting to Rs28,310.
Authorities believe these terrorists had intended to target key installations and other sensitive locations within Punjab.
This week alone saw the execution of 2,716 combing operations in collaboration with local police and security agencies, resulting in the verification of 90,141 individuals. The efforts led to the arrest of 278 suspects, the registration of 263 FIRs, and 218 recoveries.
The CTD emphasized its commitment to ensuring a “safe Punjab” and continues to focus on apprehending terrorists and anti-state elements.
Earlier in September, three terrorists were killed during an IBO in Nankana Sahib, while five suspects were arrested in 65 IBOs across the province.
Recent reports indicate a rise in terrorist activity in Pakistan, with 45 attacks recorded in September, a slight decrease from 59 in August, according to data from the Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS).
