LAHORE: Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of police claimed on Thursday to have foiled a terror attack on a shrine in Bahawalnagar district and arrested three alleged terrorists of banned outfits Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Lashkar-i-Jhangvi (LeJ).

A CTD spokesman said after receiving information about the presence of suspected terrorists, a team raided a house near the shrine and arrested three people. He said the suspects were identified as Muhammad Asif of Khushab, Muhammad Jamil of Lahore and Muhammad Sadiq of Toba Tek Singh.

He said the police team also recovered three IEDs, arms and ammunition and the shrine was saved from destruction with the help of bomb disposal squad.

He said initial investigations revealed that the terrorists were planning to attack the shrine.

In another raid, an alleged terrorist of banned Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) was arrested from Faisalabad, said the spokesman. He said after receiving information, a CTD team raided PSO pump near Roshanwali Jhal at Sumundari Road and arrested suspect Shakeel Ahmad Khan.

He said police team also recovered 575 grams explosives, 9 feet 6 inches prima cord and 8 electric circuit, detonators from him.

Meanwhile, a CTD team arrested two members of a banned outfit in Alipur tehsil.

During a search operation at Azmatpur area, the CTD personnel arrested the suspected militants and found Jehadi literature from their custody.

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2016