Punjab’s Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) has arrested 10 terrorists following 73 intelligence-based operations (IBOs) across the province, the law enforcement agency said in a statement on Saturday.
The CTD regularly carries out operations across the province to prevent and investigate terrorism-related activities and gather intelligence. Operating under the provincial police department, the Punjab CTD plays a key role in maintaining internal security and countering terrorism within the country.
The statement quoted a CTD spokesperson as saying, “The CTD conducted 73 IBOs in different cities of Punjab due to the terror threat.”
“10 terrorists arrested during the intelligence-based operation[s].”
The operations were conducted in Rawalpindi, Toba Tek Singh, Khushab, Bahawalnagar, Rahim Yar Khan, Rajanpur, Bhakkar and Jalam, according to the spokesperson.
Two dangerous terrorists, affiliated with the proscribed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), were arrested from Khushab and Jhelum, the statement said.
The CTD recovered explosives, an IED bomb, a detonator, 35 feet safety fuse wire, pamphlets, cash and mobile phones.
The terrorists were identified as Riaz, Shafiq, Rashid, Javed, Zaheer, Zaheeruddin, Hafeez, Wazir, Asif and Waheed.
The statement further said, “The terrorists wanted to spread fear and panic among the people by carrying out operations at different places.”
It added that 107 suspects were arrested during 758 combing operations and 30,394 people were questioned in those conducted in the past week.
