Punjab’s Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) has arrested 18 terrorists during 386 intelligence-based operations conducted across the province over the past month, officials said on Saturday.
According to a CTD spokesperson, the arrested group included a senior member of a highly dangerous terrorist organisation who had completed planning a major attack in one of Punjab’s cities. Operations were carried out in multiple districts, including Lahore, Mandi Bahauddin, Khushab, Bahawalpur, Toba Tek Singh, Gujranwala, Narowal, Pakpattan, and Bhakkar.
Security forces recovered explosives, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), three detonators, 13 safety fuses and wires, propaganda pamphlets, and cash from the suspects. The arrested individuals have been identified as Muhammad Kareem, Ali Raza, Muhammad Aziz, Muhammad Ali, Hashim, Noor-ul-Amin, Saleem, and Saddam, among others.
Officials said the suspects had been planning attacks at various locations to spread fear among the public.
Meanwhile, during the same month, CTD conducted 4,601 combing operations across Punjab, questioning 109,892 individuals and arresting 320 additional suspects as part of ongoing security measures. The CTD emphasized that sustained intelligence-led operations remain a top priority to prevent terrorist activities and ensure public safety in the province.
