Punjab: Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2023

Nine terrorists from Al-Qaeda and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were arrested in Punjab-wide Intelligence-Based Operations (IBO) initiated by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), reports Daily Times on February 4. Terrorists were arrested in Lahore, Gujranwala, Dera Ghazi Khan and Bahawalpur Districts. Abdur Rehman, Roed Khan, Ghulamullah, Ahmad Hassan, Jalil Ahmad, Imdadullah, Basit Ali, and Junaid Ali were among those arrested. Equipment for readying suicide vests, rocket charges, hand grenades, and heavy quantities of weapons were recovered from the possession of the terrorists. Read less...

One Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ‘commander’, identified as Irfanullah, was killed following an exchange of fire between Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and a group of terrorists in Khanewal District of Punjab on February 8, reports Samaa TV. Three other terrorists, however, managed to escape. A suicide jacket, grenade and weapons were recovered from the possession of the slain terrorist. According to a CTD Spokesperson, Irfanullah was the mastermind of the Rawalpindi car bombing and planning to target sensitive installations and important personalities along with his accomplices. Read less...

The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and other security agencies on February 9, neutralised a suicide attack plan in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad by arresting two Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists during a joint operation in Police Lines area of Rawalpindi city in Punjab, reports Samaa TV. According to a spokesman, the terrorists had planned suicide attacks on Saddar Bairuni Police Station, Rawalpindi District Courts and St Paul’s Church. The terrorists, along with their local facilitators, had conducted a recce of all the targets and sent their pictures to the Afghanistan-base operated by the Haji Faqir group. Sensitive documents, arms, ammunition, modern weapons and satellite phones were recovered from the arrested terrorists. Read less...

Hundreds of mob led by Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) on February 11 lynched a blasphemy accused to death after attacking Warburton Police Station where he was detained in Nankana Sahib District of Punjab, reports The Namal. The mob later set body of the suspect on fire after killing him. Residents of the area claimed that the man — who had returned after spending two years in jail — used to practice witchcraft by pasting his ex-wife's picture on holy papers. Overwhelmed by the large crowd, the Station House Officer (SHO) of Warburton Police Station, Feroze Bhatti, and other Police personnel escaped the scene to save their lives. Mob then grabbed the man and dragged him out to the street where they beat him to death. Taking notice of the incident, Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Usman Anwar suspended the SHO and Nankana Sahib Circle Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Nawaz Waraq for their failure in preventing the situation from turning violent. Read less...

The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) on February 13 arrested two terrorists in Dera Ghazi Khan District of Punjab, reports ARY News. According to details, the CTD carried out an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Dera Ghazi Khan and arrested two suspects, identified as Subhan Ilyas and Masood ur Rehman – of banned outfit. During the raid, the CTD also recovered explosives and arms and ammunitions pistols recovered from the possession of terrorists. Read less...

The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) on February 15 arrested two Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists, identified as Ghulam Hussain and Ghulam Mustafa, during an intelligence-based operation in Dera Ghazi Khan District of Punjab, reports Samaa TV. Explosives, weapons and material required for making suicide jackets were recovered from the possession of arrested terrorists. According to CTD officials, the arrested terrorists were planning and surveillance to target sensitive places. Read less...

At least two passengers were killed and six others injured as a result of a blast inside the Quetta-bound Jaffar Express train when it was passing from Chichawatni railway station in Sahiwal District of Punjab on February 16, reports ARY News. The train was coming from Peshawar. The blast occurred in bogie No 6 of economy class. Baloch Nationalist Army (BNA), through its media cell “Baask media”, claimed the responsibility of the attack. Read less...

The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on February 17 repulsed an attack by terrorists on Security Forces (SFs) in Kala Bagh Town of Mianwali District in Punjab, killing a ‘commander’ of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), reports ARY News. According to a CTD statement, the terrorists opened indiscriminate fire on SF personnel, prompting SF to retaliate. During the exchange of fire – which lasted for almost 20 minutes, a TTP commander – identified as Habib-ur-Rehman – was killed. However, other terrorists managed to flee from the spot. A Kalashnikov, suicide jacket and TTP stickers were recovered from the possession of killed terrorist. Read less...

The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on February 18 arrested eight suspected Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists from different areas of the Punjab, reports Dawn. The CTD spokesperson said the teams had conducted intelligence-based operations in Lahore, Sargodha and Multan and arrested eight TTP terrorists. The teams also recovered a cache of arms, ammunition and suicide jackets from their possession. Read less...

The senior Hizb-Ul-Mujahideen (HM) ‘commander’ Bashir Ahmad Peer alias Imtiyaz Alam was shot dead on February 20 outside a shop in Rawalpindi city of Punjab, reports Daily Excelsior. Peer alias Imtiyaz Alam alias Haji, originally belonging to Babarpora area in Kupwara District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) was living in Rawalpindi. Peer was involved in “a number of online propaganda groups to unite ex-militants and other cadres for the furtherance of activities of Hizb-Ul-Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Toiba and others”. Read less...

The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) on February 22 foiled a terrorism bid in Layyah District of Punjab and arrested a Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorist, reports ARY News. The CTD conducted an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Layyah District, arrested terrorist Abdul Qayyum. In a statement, a CTD spokesperson said that the arrested terrorist wanted to target a sensitive building in Layyah while the raiding team also recovered explosive materials and equipment for making suicide vests from his possession. Read less...

The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on February 25 arrested seven Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists during different Intelligence Based Operations (IBOs) in parts of Lahore and other cities of Punjab, reports Samaa TV. Suicide vests, explosives and weapons were recovered from their possession. The terrorists wanted to attack sensitive installations in Pakistan, CTD claimed. Read less...