RAWALPINDI: Punjab’s Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) has arrested 10 terrorists from a banned group, including two from Rawalpindi, during operations in various parts of the province and thwarted a significant terrorist plan.

Among the arrested were two most dreaded terrorists who were taken into custody from Rawalpindi. A large quantity of explosives were also recovered from them.

A spokesperson for the CTD said on Monday that the Counter-Terrorism Department Punjab conducted 189 intelligence-based operations in different districts of the province to effectively deal with any untoward incident of terrorism.

As many as 189 suspects were questioned and 10 terrorists were arrested along with weapons, explosives and other prohibited materials, the spokesperson added.

The arrested terrorists include Badal Singh, Suraj Singh, Siraj, Hidayatullah, Deedar Hussain and Sadaqat Hussain. He added that the terrorists were affiliated with various terrorist organisations.

He said these terrorists were arrested during intelligence-based operations in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Jhelum and Bahawalpur.

The spokesperson said the terrorists had planned to target important buildings in Rawalpindi and other cities, adding that nine cases were registered against the arrested terrorists and further investigation was being carried out.

He said that during the current week, 2,053 combing operations were conducted with the cooperation of local police and security agencies. During the operations, 82,473 people were checked, 263 suspects were arrested, 226 FIRs were registered and 163 recoveries were made.

Published in Dawn, April 15th, 2025