LAHORE: The Punjab Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) claimed on Saturday to have arrested 10 members of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Al-Qaeda from different areas of the province.

The CTD conducted extensive 20 intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in different districts across the province to avert any untoward incident.

The CTD arrested 10 suspects belonging to TTP and Al-Qaeda/LeJ during the IBOs. The suspects were identified as Abdul Rehman, Roid Khan, Hanifullah Khan, Jalil Ahmad alias Faryadi, Basit Ali, Junaid Ali and Ismail Khalil from TTP; Ghulamullah, Ahmad Hassan and Imdadullah from Al-Qaeda.

Accordingly, seven cases were registered against the arrested persons u/s 11-H, 11-I, 11-J, 11-N, 11-F (2), ATA/1997 PS CTD Gujranwala; u/s 302/324/353/34/PPC, 7-ATA/1997 13-2(a,b)/20/65-AO PS CTD Dera Ghazi Khan; u/s 4/5 ESA 7 ATA 1997 PS CTD Bahawalpur; u/s 11-W(2)/ ATA 1997 PS CTD DG Khan; u/s 11-f(2)/11-H/11-N/11-W/9 ATA, PS CTD Lahore; u/s 4/5 ESA 1908 PS CTD Gujranwala; and u/s 11G(2)/7ATA, 4/5ESA 1908, 13(2a)20/65 AO PS CTD Multan.

The CTD officials also recovered a huge quantity of arms and ammunition, including one explosive jacket, 8,130gm explosive, safety fuse 02.8ft, electric circuit 03, one battery, one rocket, one rocket charger, seven hand-grenades, 11 detonators, one rifle SMG with 40 bullets, two 30 bore pistols with 18 bullets, seven books, six receipt books, seven stickers, one flag of the banned organisation, one USB, three mobile phones and Rs44,070 in cash.

Furthermore, during this week, 476 combing operations were conducted with the help of local police/LEAs. During these operations, 25,865 people were checked, 91 suspects were arrested and 67 FIRs were registered besides 49 recoveries.

Published in Dawn, February 5th, 2023