TOBA TEK SINGH: At least five people, including three children and a woman, were killed during a joint-raid conducted by police and security forces in Pirmahal area of Punjab's Toba Tek Singh district on Thursday, according to District Police Officer of Toba Tek Singh.

Police say officers raided a suspected militant hideout in Housing Colony area of Pirmahal, triggering a shootout.

The suspects also lobbed several grenades wounding three members of the Punjab Elite Police Force during the hour-long encounter. The condition of one of the wounded cops was reported as critical.

A large contingent of security men and police commandoes reached the site and cordoned off the area.

Police claimed to have arrested one suspected terrorist, who was in wounded condition, while another reportedly blew himself up to avoid arrest.

The wife and three children of the suspect, who detonated his suicide vest, were among those killed in the blast. Another child was also critically injured as a result of the blast.

Police sources also said that that the arrested suspect was a key commander belonging to the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant organisation.

All victims were shifted to the Toba DHQ Hospital. Security was also put on high alert in the district.

Authorities have stepped up operations against militants during the past two weeks after a suicide attack in Punjab province killed provincial home minister Shuja Khanzada and 13 others.