Major terror plot foiled in Punjab, 34 militants arrested in province-wide crackdown

Lahore, June 1, 2025 – Punjab’s Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) announced it had foiled a “major terror plot” after arresting 34 militants from banned organizations in a series of 415 intelligence-based operations (IBOs) conducted across the province.

Key Arrests and Recoveries

• Two high-profile terrorists affiliated with Fitna al Khawarij (a state-designated term for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP) were apprehended in Lahore with explosives.

• Among those arrested were Muhammad Ashfaq, Ismail Khan, Naseerullah, and others linked to multiple banned outfits.

• Recovered items included 5,841 grams of explosives, 19 detonators, a grenade, safety fuse wire, pamphlets, cash, and mobile phones.

Operations Across Punjab

The CTD carried out raids in:

• Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Jhelum, Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, Narowal, Pakpattan, Bahawalnagar, Bukhara, Kasur, and Nankana Sahib.

• A total of 420 suspects were interrogated, with 34 formally arrested and 23 cases registered against them.

Broader Security Measures

• In May, the CTD conducted 5,045 combing operations in collaboration with local police, screening 209,518 individuals and arresting 604 suspects.

• The department emphasized its commitment to a “safe Punjab,” vowing to leave “no stone unturned” in countering terrorism.

Rising Terrorism Threat

Pakistan has seen a surge in militant activity, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, since the TTP ended its ceasefire in November 2022. The country ranks second in the Global Terrorism Index 2025, with terror-related deaths rising by 45% (1,081 fatalities) in the past year.

Last month, the CTD had prevented multiple attacks by arresting 10 terrorists in 189 operations, underscoring ongoing security challenges.