MULTAN: The Counter-Terrorism Department claimed on Tuesday to have arrested four members of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.

Those arrested have been identified as Abdul Salam, Muhammad Liaquat, Wajidullah and Muhammad Ahmed.

According to a CTD spokesman, the department received information that four suspected terrorists of the proscribed TTP along with arms and explosives were present at Northern Bypass Road near Bakhtawar Amin Hospital, Multan. The spokesman said they were planning to target political leaders in Multan.

“After receiving information, the CTD personnel launched an operation involving deployment of dozens of intelligence officers. They raided the hideout of ‘terrorists’ and arrested them,” he said.

Five hand grenades, arms, maps and literature of TTP were also recovered from the suspects.

Multan CTD police have registered a case.

“During the last three weeks, CTD (Punjab) has disrupted four terror plans in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Sahiwal and Faisalabad while 16 threat alerts had been received in the month of July alone. Hundreds of activists and facilitators are under strict watch of CTD. Raids are being conducted daily on the directions of IGP for defeating terror plans and for safe conduct of elections in Punjab,” he said.

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2018