LAHORE: The Counterterrorism Department (CTD), Punjab, has arrested 13 suspected terrorists belonging to banned organisations during intelligence-based operations across the province, recovering explosives, detonators, IEDs and other prohibited items.
According to a CTD official, the department conducted 98 intelligence-based operations in different districts, questioning 98 suspects and arresting 13 people allegedly linked to Fitna al-Khwarij and other terrorist organisations. The arrested suspects include Usman, Abdul Mannan, Wajid, Naeem, Osama, Hassan, Hassan Khan, Babar, Hasnain, Javed and Raheem. They were arrested from Lahore, Sargodha, Gujrat, Pakpattan, Rawalpindi, Mandi Bahauddin, Faisalabad, Khushab, Chiniot and Khanewal.
The official identified Wajid, arrested in Pakpattan, as a suspected terrorist linked to the Indian Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). The CTD recovered 1,990 grams of explosives, 12 detonators, 35 feet of safety fuse wire, three improvised explosive device (IED) bombs, one hand grenade, pamphlets and magazines of banned organisations, a prima card, mobile phones and cash.
The official said the suspects had planned to carry out activities in different areas to spread terror. Thirteen cases have been registered against them, and further investigations are underway.
Separately, the CTD, in coordination with local police and security agencies, conducted 1,590 combing operations across the province. During these operations, 55,416 people were checked, 52 suspects arrested, 45 FIRs registered and 40 recoveries made.
The CTD spokesperson has urged citizens to share relevant information with the CTD Punjab through its helpline 0800-11111.
