Major terrorism plot foiled in Punjab, six arrested

LAHORE: The counter-terrorism department and the Intelligence Bureau while foiling a major terrorism plot have arrested six terrorists in Punjab in joint operations, officials said.

The militants were said to be dispatched by the TTP leadership from a Maddarasa located at Gajumata near Ferozepur Road to hit the targets.

The arrests of six militants were made by Joint Operation Teams (JOTs) of the CTD and IB in raids carried out across the province, officials said.

The joint team raided a place on outskirts of Lahore and recovered a suicide jacket and some very important evidence, including maps of targeted places.

The sources said the agencies got intelligence about some suspects in Gujranwala. From the hideout some evidence was found about the militants’ plan. Finally, on 29th March, the JOTs arrested the six militants from a hideout in a seminary at Gajjumatta, Lahore.

The network used the place as a launching pad for attacks on Bedian Road and near Arfa Karim Tower, officials said.

The arrested militants included Islamul Haq, Jehangir Shah, Imran, Waqarul Amin alias Qari, Aleemur Rehman and a suicide bomber Muhammad Luqman.

A large quantity of explosives were also captured from their possession, sources added.

The network had carried out two major suicide attacks on Bedian Road in July and targeting policemen on Ferozepur Road near Arfa Karim Tower in April 2017, an official said.

The joint teams of agencies are collecting intelligence and conducting raids across Punjab to arrest the remaining militants of the terrorist network.