LAHORE: The Punjab Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) has announced the arrest of 26 suspected terrorists linked to various proscribed militant organisations during a series of intelligence-based operations carried out across the province over the past month.

According to a CTD spokesperson, the arrests were made amid heightened security concerns and potential terrorist threats in Punjab. The operations included 286 intelligence-based raids in districts such as Lahore, Gujranwala, Sahiwal, Khushab, Mianwali, Bhakkar, Faisalabad, Jhang, Chakwal, Rajanpur, Narowal, Pakpattan, Sargodha and others.

Among those detained was an alleged militant affiliated with al-Qaeda, arrested in Lahore. In Sargodha, authorities apprehended four members of Fitna al-Khawarij — a term used by Pakistani authorities for militants associated with the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Officials said the suspects had links to the tribal areas and were allegedly planning attacks on key buildings in various cities in an attempt to spread fear among the public.

During the raids, security forces recovered a large cache of prohibited and explosive materials, including 4.9 kilograms of explosives, three improvised explosive devices (IEDs), 19 detonators, 34 feet of safety fuse wire, pamphlets and magazines of banned organisations, Prima cards, mobile phones and cash.

The CTD has registered 25 terrorism-related cases against the arrested individuals and initiated further investigations. In addition, 286 other suspects were interrogated during the course of the operations.

Alongside these actions, the CTD, in coordination with police and security agencies, conducted 4,662 combing operations across Punjab. These checks involved screening over 160,000 individuals, resulting in the arrest of 538 suspects, registration of 516 FIRs, and hundreds of recoveries.

Authorities said the proactive measures are part of ongoing counter-terrorism efforts aimed at disrupting militant networks and preventing attacks in both urban and rural areas of the province. The suspects remain in custody as investigations continue.