LAHORE: The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of police claimed on Saturday to have arrested three suspected terrorists in the province and recovered arms and explosive material.

The CTD spokesperson said a Rawalpindi team received information that two suspects were hiding in a house near Dhoke Bair Morr in Chakwal. He said the CTD team raided the hideout and arrested suspects Amaad and Tahir. He said they also recovered 1,045 gram explosive material, 15ft safety fuse wire and five detonators from their custody.

The spokesperson said the suspects were members of the banned Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) and Lashkar-i-Jhangvi (LJ). Initial investigation revealed that the suspected terrorists were planning to attack sensitive installations in Rawalpindi.

He said they were shifted to undisclosed location for further interrogation and a case under section 4, 5 and 7 of Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) was registered against them at the CTD police station.

The spokesman further claimed that a member of a banned outfit was arrested in Chiniot. He claimed that the CTD team received information that a member of Jamatul Ahrar (JA) was planning to attack some sensitive installations and personnel of LEAs in Faisalabad region. He said the police team after receiving intelligence reports raided a restaurant near Chiniot and arrested the suspect who was identified as Ahmed Zia Masood Khan of Mianwali. He said the team also recovered four non-electric detonators, safety fuse, 275 grams of Black Powder and four explosive bars each of 526 grams.

Published in Dawn, March 5th, 2017