LAHORE: Four suspected terrorists were killed on Monday in an early morning raid by a joint team of law-enforcement agencies in Kala Shah Kaku.

According to a preliminary report submitted to the Punjab government, the terrorists had planned to target the offices of Intelligence Bureau in Lahore.

A senior official, who did not want to be named, told Dawn that the terrorists were killed in the encounter. One, identified as Abdali of Muridke, blew himself up to avoid arrest, while three others were killed in a heavy exchange of fire.

“They belonged to the Al Qaeda network and had plan­ned to attack the IB’s Punjab headquarters, but the timely action by the joint team of law-enforcement agencies foiled the plan,” he said.

A laptop, maps and some important gadgets, besides sophisticated weapons, including a rocket laun­cher, were found in the hideout (an under-construction house) of terrorists, he added. The official said the terrorists had brought weapons from Wana in fruit containers.

Official says one Al Qaeda suspect blew himself up

He said the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) acted on information about the departure of terrorists from Wana and arrival in the surroundings of Lahore and found out their hideouts in Kala Shah Kaku.

Punjab Home Minister Shuja Khanzada said security agencies captured two terrorists who had suffered injuries in the exchange of fire. They belonged to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

He said three suicide jackets, a rocket-launcher, five Kalashnikovs, a huge quantity of bullets and maps of important buildings were seized during the raid.

The minister said the terrorists were planning to attack sensitive installations and important buildings.

Mr Khanzada said that law-enforcement agencies would continue to act against terrorists under the National Action Plan (NAP). Security forces have already captured 75 terrorists in Punjab.

He said 13,802 seminaries and mosques had been registered in the province.

The minister said all NGOs were being monitored and action had been taken against seven of them for their alleged involvement in illegal activities.

According to our Sheikhupura correspondent, terrorists had opened fire on personnel of law-enforcement agencies. A security official and nine passersby suffered bullet injuries.

Published in Dawn, June 30th, 2015

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