CTD thwarts pre-poll terror party

–CTD arrests four ‘TTP militants’ in Multan, while five others apprehended in DG Khan

Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) has arrested four suspected terrorists belonging to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, who were planning to target electoral candidates in Punjab ahead of July 25 polls.

In an intelligence-based operation conducted in Multan, the CTD personnel launched an operation near Bypass Road to apprehend the “terrorists” besides seizing a large cache of weapons, maps and banned literature.

The arrested militants were preparing to attack the top leadership of different political parties in Multan in a bid to disrupt the July 25 polls, said the CTD in a statement.

The CTD expressed confidence that further disclosures as a result of interrogation would help the force carry out more raids.

FIVE ‘TERRORISTS’ NABBED IN DG KHAN:

Separately, police and paramilitary personnel nabbed five terrorists in an IBO in DG Khan, while their facilitator was arrested from Lahore, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The raids also resulted in the arrest of 24 other suspects, with illegal weapons seized from them.

On July 9, National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta) had disclosed that almost all the leading politicians, belonging to almost all mainstream political parties, are facing serious security threats in the backdrop of the July 25 general election.

Briefing the Senate Committee on Interior, Nacta officials revealed that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan, the Awami National Party’s (ANP) Afsandyar Wali, the Qaumi Watan Party’s (QWP) Aftab Sherpao and leadership of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) are under threat.

The other politicians who are facing security threats include the Khyber Pakhtunkwa (K-P) former chief ministers Akram Durrani and Ameer Haider Hoti. Durrani belongs to the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam while Hoti belongs to the ANP.