OKARA: A suspected activist of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) (Fitnaul Khawarij) was arrested along with explosive material and related devices by a Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) team led by Under Officer (UO) 958 at the CTD police station in Sahiwal.

According to the first information report (FIR), the CTD patrolling team was present at Satgrah Mor, about three kilometres from City North, when a source informed them that a TTP activist carrying explosive material was standing in the city area on Okara-Faisalabad Road near a commercial market.

Acting on the tip-off, the team rushed to the location and, on the identification of the source, apprehended the suspect. He identified himself as Rehmatullah Yousafzai Pathan, a resident of Swat district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A Civil Defence official was immediately called to the scene.

The CTD team, led by UO 958 Waseem Akhtar, overpowered the suspect, cordoned off the area, and recovered a partially prepared improvised explosive device (IED), along with a Prima cord, electric circuit, electric button, detonator, electric wires, power bank battery, battery holder, TTP membership card, CNIC, cash amounting to Rs2,260, and a cotton suit. All recovered items were secured safely.

Civil Defence official Munir Ahmad, under strict safety protocols, examined and defused the explosive material, which was fully operational and ready for detonation.

On the complaint of UO Waseem Akhtar, a case (FIR No. 11/2026) was registered at CTD Police Station Sahiwal under Sections 4/5 of the Explosive Substances Act, 1908, Section 11-F(2), and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.

Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2026