LAHORE: Five suspected terrorists were killed in what is claimed to be an encounter and 53 others were arrested in joint intelligence-based combing operations in Punjab on Friday.

Sources said during a combing operation in the Zinda Peer tribal area of Dera Ghazi Khan tehsil, law enforcement agencies zeroed in on a hideout of militants who started shooting at them.

The Rangers and policemen shot back and five suspects were killed in the exchange of gunfire while seven others were arrested.

The suspects killed have not yet been identified.

The law enforcement agencies claimed to have seized a large cache of arms and several tonnes of ammunition buried in various compounds and caves in the area.

Pakistan Rangers, Punjab, Director General Maj Gen Azhar Naveed Hayat Khan visited Dera Ghazi Khan to review progress on the joint operation against terrorists.

He also visited the tribal area to monitor the operation and appreciated the efforts of law enforcement personnel involved.

He told them to quicken the pace of ongoing operations.

While talking to the Rangers personnel, he said they would need to put in all their efforts to squeeze out space for terrorists and their abettors.

A press release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations said that law enforcement agencies had conducted a joint search and intelligence-based operations in various areas

of Punjab, including DG Khan, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Sialkot, Shakargarh, Jhang, Attock and Sheikhupura.

The Punjab Rangers, police and intelligence agencies have arrested 46 suspected terrorists, including 11 Afghan nationals, and seized weapons and ammunition from them, it said.

Published in Dawn, March 18th, 2017