LAHORE: The Punjab Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) on Saturday claimed to have apprehended 13 terrorists including “three key commanders of Daesh” during intelligence-based operations conducted in different cities of the province.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the CTD said the suspects lassoed from Lahore, Bahawalpur, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Chiniot, Kasur, Multan, and Mandi Bahauddin had planned carrying out subversive activities in the province.
During the operation, a substantial cache of arms and ammunitions including explosive materials, detonators, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), fuses, and a huge amount of cash, was recovered from the apprehended terrorists.
It further said cases were registered against them and investigations were under way. Separately, the CTD added that 34 suspects were rounded up during 339 combing operations this week while 4,113 people were also questioned.
Last week, the Punjab CTD said it had arrested 21 “terrorists”, which included militants affiliated with the banned Daesh and the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
In July, the Punjab CTD conducted IBOs in various parts of the province resulting in the arrest of 17 militants associated with banned militant organisations.
According to a CTD spokesperson, 132 IBOs were carried out in Punjab, specifically targeting expected terrorism activities by defunct organisations, particularly against Chinese nationals and worship places during Muharram.
