In a breakthrough, Pakistan’s counter-terrorism authorities have captured over 170 most-wanted terrorists in a series of secret operations spanning over 11 months across the country’s biggest province of Punjab. The Counter Terrorism Department formerly known as the Crime Investigation Department, are crime scene investigation, interrogation, anti-terrorism, and intelligence bureau of the provincial police services of Pakistan.

News’s Investigation Unit acquired access to official documents, which indicated that the Punjab Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) launched covert functions against operatives of the Islamic State (IS), Al-Qaeda, Islamic State-Khorasan and other local militant companies last year. Several terrorists were gunned down in these processes, revealed the CTD officials.

As per the records, 22 Al-Qaeda members were apprehended in south Punjab in 40 operations.

The authorities also seized 41 terrorists of the IS in 35 operations, while intelligence-based operations also resulted in the detention of four operators of the IS-Khorasan group. The CTD teams also contained 89 operatives of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) during these operations performed in different cities of Punjab.

Among those charged were also 10 members of the TTP Ghazi group, eight detectives of the banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, and one belonging to the 313 Brigade. The CTD officials, who spoke to Media on condition of anonymity, disclosed that around two dozen terrorists were in contact with their handlers in Afghanistan and Syria. They claimed these attackers were planning to hit exposed installations in south Punjab.

The CTD team captured Waleed Asif, allegedly working for Al-Qaeda. They grabbed multiple magazines, including Nawa-e-Afghan Jihad, Hateen, Kiski Fauj Hai and other materials from his custody. Among the captured was also Abid Hussain, an alleged IS operative. A banned book, Hateen, was recovered from his custody, while he also maintained flags of the IS.

Another IS operative, Anas Abbas, was also among the seized. Hammad Ahmad, a resident of Islamabad, allegedly a detective of the Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent, was also apprehended. The forces seized 550 grams of explosives, a six-foot safety fuse, three detonators, an identity card, an ATM card, and Rs4,730 from his residence.