Punjab: Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2023

The Punjab Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) on January 3, released the annual performance report of the year 2022 which reported 1,225 intelligence-based operations were conducted across the province, in which 244 suspects were arrested, 197 cases were registered and 782 recoveries were made, reports The News. According to the CTD spokesman, the department has achieved important achievements for the eradication of terrorism while maintaining its previous traditions. The spokesperson said in the year 2022, the operation wing of CTD Punjab added 105 suspicious persons and 354 madrasas to the Fourth Schedule list, apart from this. CTD Punjab's investigation wing has registered 205 terrorism cases, while 246 terrorists were arrested out of which 183 persons were challaned. 22 cases investigations are in progress for trial. The spokesman maintained the CTD Punjab recovered 64.36 kg of explosives, 48 hand grenades, 253 detonators, 7 batteries and 215 meters of prima cord, 3 SMGs, 40 pistols, 324 bullets and 3 magazines from terrorists. Similarly, the CTD Punjab detained 20 proclaimed offenders (POs) and 3 POs who were in Red Book died in a police encounter. He said the CTD raced 13 suspects involved in head money cases and 16 cases of head money were completed and red notices were issued to six accused. Read less...

Two Punjab Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel, identified as Additional Director Naveed Sial and Inspector Nasir Abbas, were shot dead by unidentified assailant at a truck stop in Khanewal city (Khanewal District) of Punjab on January 3, reports Samaa TV. Footage of the incident showed that a lone gunman was involved in the incident. Read less...

Two militant outfits, Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Al Qaeda-linked Lashkar-i-Khorasan, on January 4, claimed responsibility for killing of two Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) personnel in Khanewal city (Khanewal District) of Punjab on January 3, reports Dawn. Earlier it was reported that both personnel belonged to Counter Terrorism Department (CTD). According to the first information report (FIR), a copy of which is available with Dawn, ISI Multan Region Director Naveed Sadiq and Inspector Nasir Abbas met a source at a roadside hotel on the National Highway near Pirowal in Khanewal District. After having tea, they all walked to the parking lot when the source himself, identified as Umar Khan of Kacha Khoo, pulled out his gun, shot the officers dead and fled from the scene. The suspect reportedly executed the attack on the directions of his group leader, Asadullah. Meanwhile, the TTP claimed responsibility for the attack. Earlier, a group calling itself Lashkar-i-Khorasan, linked with Al Qaeda, had also made a similar claim. “Yesterday, a secret squad of TTP killed ISI Deputy Director Multan Naveed Sadiq along with his colleague Inspector Nasir Butt at Bismillah Highway in Khanewal district of Punjab,” TTP ‘spokesman’ Mohammad Khorasani said in a statement to the media. Read less...

Two militant outfits, Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Al Qaeda-linked Lashkar-i-Khorasan, on January 4, claimed responsibility for killing of two Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) personnel in Khanewal city of Punjab on January 3, reports Dawn. Earlier it was reported that both personnel belonged to Counter Terrorism Department (CTD). According to the first information report (FIR), a copy of which is available with Dawn, ISI Multan Region Director Naveed Sadiq and Inspector Nasir Abbas met a source at a roadside hotel on the National Highway near Pirowal in Khanewal District. After having tea, they all walked to the parking lot when the source himself, identified as Umar Khan of Kacha Khoo, pulled out his gun, shot the officers dead and fled from the scene. The suspect reportedly executed the attack on the directions of his group leader, Asadullah. Read less...

Baloch Republican Guards (BRG) attacked and blew up gas pipeline in Dera Ghazi Khan District of Punjab on January 6, reports Radio Zrumbesh. BRG ‘spokesman’ Dostin Baloch claimed responsibility for the attack. He said in his statement that BRG cadres attacked the thirty-six (36) inch diameter gas pipeline going to Punjab from the Sui Gas Plant, was destroyed by explosives. Dostin Baloch has further said that as a result of the explosion, gas supply to most of the Districts of Punjab has been completely suspended. Read less...

The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on January 11 arrested 26 suspects during various combing operations across Punjab, reports Samaa TV. CTD officials reported launching raids at 40 locations of Punjab, including Mandi Bahauddin, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan and Khushab. During these raids, CTD interrogated around 1,929 suspected people and held 26 of them. A cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from the suspects’ hideouts. Read less...

A report released on January 12 by Punjab Police revealed that the Police have killed 612 suspects in encounters during the past five years, reports Samaa TV. The report stated that 67 suspects were killed in shootouts in 2018, 69 in 2019, 166 in 2020, 186 in 2021, and 124 until September 2022. The number of Police officers killed in the line of duty during this time period is 57. The Police have registered 544 cases related to encounters during this time period. Read less...

The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel on January 12 arrested two terrorists, identified as Ehsan and Osama, from Multan city (Multan District) of Punjab, reports ARY News. Explosives and cash were recovered from the possession of terrorists. Read less...

A Policeman and a civilian were killed, and one Policeman injured in a drive-by attack by two motorcyclists at the Jhangi Police checkpoint in Vehowa tehsil of Taunsa Sharif District of Punjab on January 14, reports Dawn. Police said unidentified terrorists attacked the Punjab Police off-road border checkpoint and killed Police official Mazar and one unidentified passer-by. Another Policeman Ramzan, sustained injuries. Read less...

Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Amir Zulfiqar Khan on January 15 ordered a clean-up operation against militants and other criminals involved in attacks on Police check posts in different cities of south Punjab, reports Dawn. IGP Amir Zulfiqar Khan was holding a meeting at the Dera Ghazi Khan regional police officer (RPO) office after a head constable was martyred in an attack on a check post at Taunsa on January 14. Additional IGs of south Punjab, Special Branch, Counter Terrorism Department, Punjab operations, Dera Ghazi Khan District Police Officer (DPO) and other officers were present. The IGP directed Regional Police Officers (RPO) to increase the number of personnel at Police check posts in border areas and deploy expert snipers equipped with modern gadgets. Read less...