LAHORE: The Punjab Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) claimed on Saturday to have foiled a terror plots by arresting 13 suspected terrorists belonging to various banned organisations during week-long intelligence-based operations (IBOs) conducted across the province.

According to a CTD spokesperson, the department carried out 58 operations in various districts to avert possible terrorist activities. The operations were conducted in Lahore, Jhang, Sahiwal, Jhelum, Chiniot, Mandi Bahauddin and Mianwali.

During the operations, 58 suspects were interrogated, and 13 alleged terrorists were taken into custody along with arms, explosives, and other prohibited material.

The spokesperson said the suspects were associated with Fitna-al-Khawarij and other banned organisations. Among those arrested, Khawarij Mukhtar Ahmed was apprehended from Lahore along with a large quantity of explosives.

The CTD said it had recovered 2,010 grams of explosives, eight detonators, safety fuse wire, four improvised explosive devices (IEDs), as well as pamphlets and magazines of banned organisations, prima cards, mobile phones and cash from the suspects.

According to the spokesperson, the suspected terrorists were allegedly planning to target law enforcement agency offices.

He said 13 cases had been registered against the arrested suspects on terrorism charges.

Published in Dawn, May 24th, 2026