The police in Punjab province, Pakistan, announced the arrest of 11 suspected terrorists affiliated with ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and TTP from various locations, and claimed it has foiled a “major terror plot.” The terrorists include Muhammad Ejaz, a key commander of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), who took terrorism training in Afghanistan.
He was nabbed from the Bahawalpur district of Punjab, some 400 km from Lahore.
The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab police said that the terrorists had planned to sabotage across the province by targeting important installations. In a statement, they said Punjab police have foiled a “major terror plot” by arresting these 11 suspected terrorists.
According to the CTD, it conducted 135 intelligence-based operations in different districts of the province during this week to effectively deal with any untoward incident of terrorism.
“As many as 135 suspected persons were interrogated and 11 alleged terrorists were arrested with weapons, explosives, and other prohibited materials. They belong to Daesh (ISIS), Al-Qaeda, and TTP,” the statement said.
The 11 suspected terrorists were arrested in Sargodha, Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, Jhelum, Lahore, Narwal, Jhang, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad and Gujranwala cities. The police have registered 10 cases against the terrorists and shifted them to an unknown location for interrogation.
Explosive material, one explosive jacket, two IED bombs, 11 detonators, banned literature, and cash have been recovered from the possession of the terrorists.