LAHORE: The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) claimed on Saturday to have arrested five suspected militants linked with banned outfits during operations in different areas of the province.

According to the spokesman, the CTD conducted 70 intelligence-based operations in different districts to effectively deal with any untoward incident of terrorism. Some 71 suspected persons were interrogated and five alleged militants were arrested with weapons, explosives and other prohibited materials.

Among the arrested militants are Sharafatullah, Muhammad Yasin, Talha, Abdul Rahman and Muhammad Usaid, he said and added they belonged to Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.

He said the arrest of these militants was carried out during intelligence-based operations in Mianwali, Jehlum, Okara and Hafizabad.

He said 1.7kg explosives, two IED bombs, 10 detonators, 21-foot protective fuse wire, one pistol, five bullets, two books of a banned organisation, three stickers and cash were recovered from their possession.

The spokesman said the militants wanted to target important installations.

The police registered four cases under terrorism charges against the suspects and shifted them to an unknown location, he added.

Published in Dawn, February 4th, 2024