Summary
- According to a CTD Punjab spokesperson, law-enforcement teams conducted 158 intelligence-based operations across several districts, questioning 160 individuals and apprehending 23 suspects allegedly associated with banned militant organisations.
- The CTD said the suspects were linked to RAW, Fitna al-Khawarij and other banned organisations.
- The CTD spokesperson said the department would continue intelligence-led operations against militant networks and elements considered a threat to public security as part of its efforts to maintain a safe Punjab.
LAHORE: Punjab’s Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) has arrested 23 suspected militants during a province-wide crackdown, including a suspect in Sahiwal allegedly linked to India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), officials said.
According to a CTD Punjab spokesperson, law-enforcement teams conducted 158 intelligence-based operations across several districts, questioning 160 individuals and apprehending 23 suspects allegedly associated with banned militant organisations.
The suspects were identified as Hidayatullah, Muhammad Mujahid, Tasleem Hasnain, Tariqullah, Tasadduq Hussain, Mir Laiq Khan, Muhammad Zaid, Muhammad Zahid, Rab Nawaz, Bakhtiar Ahmed, Abdul Rauf, Najeebullah, Sanaullah, Khan Muhammad, Mehtab Ahmed, Muhammad Shahid, Ali Haider, Amirullah Khan, Fazal Abbas, Amir Rehman, Asif Khan, Muhammad Inam and Gulbeeb Khan.
The arrests were reported from Attock, Multan, Sahiwal, Jhelum, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Khushab, Mianwali, Bahawalpur, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sargodha, Rawalpindi and Bhakkar. The CTD said the suspects were linked to RAW, Fitna al-Khawarij and other banned organisations.
Officials said 22 cases have been registered against the arrested suspects. During the operations, law-enforcement teams recovered 5,140 grams of explosive material, seven improvised explosive devices, 26 detonators, 48 feet of safety fuse wire, five prohibited magazines, 128 pamphlets, 70 stickers, six mobile phones and Rs46,150 in cash.
The CTD also reported extensive combing operations across Punjab over the past four weeks. In coordination with local police and other law-enforcement agencies, 4,601 combing operations were conducted, during which 166,553 individuals were checked. Authorities arrested 402 suspects, registered 396 cases and made 365 recoveries of various kinds.
The CTD spokesperson said the department would continue intelligence-led operations against militant networks and elements considered a threat to public security as part of its efforts to maintain a safe Punjab.
Citizens have been urged to report suspicious activities or information related to terrorism to the CTD Punjab helpline at 0800-11111.
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