LAHORE: The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) claimed on Saturday to have arrested five suspected militants during intelligence-based operations (IBOs) across Punjab.

The CTD claimed to have conducted 24 IBOs in different districts of the province to effectively counter the menace of terrorism.

CTD officials said the arrested suspects were identified as Asrar Ahmad, Farooq Shah, Saifullah, Syed Shahzaib Iqbal and Ahmad Khan, who allegedly belonged to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The CTD also recovered suicide jackets, explosives, weapons and banned literature from their possession.

The suspects, they said, had been planning terrorist attacks in some areas.

The alleged militants have been shifted to an undisclosed location after cases were registered against them at Sheikhupura, Dera Ghazi Khan and Multan.

Officials said more than 21,000 people were checked in 504 combing operations and 153 suspects were arrested.

The department also registered cases against the suspected militants in different police stations.

Published in Dawn, january 1st, 2023