The Counter Terrorism Department conducted intelligence-based operations in four districts of Punjab, aressting nine terrorsists affiliated with proscribed outfits.

The operations were carried out in Lahore, Gujranwala, DG Khan and Bahawalpur. The terrorists are rportedly associated with Al Qaeda and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. Officials said that the arrests had foiled a major terrorist plot that would have targeted major cities in Punjab.

The arrested men include Abdul Rahman, Raveed Khan, Ghulamullah, Ahmed hassan, Jaleel Ahmed, Imdad ullah, Basit Ali and Junaid Ali among others. CTD also recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition, as well as components used to build suicide vests.

The arrested men have been booked in seven different cases, and investigations are underway. CTD also said that 20 ither people were questioned during the course of these intelligence based operations.

A total of 476 combing operations were carried out over the last week, in which 91 people were taken in custody.

The CTD is Punjab’s primary force against terrorism and was repurposed after 2010 from the the Criminal Investigation Department to carry out intelligence and operation activiteis.