Punjab Timeline- 2017

Month/Date

Incidents

January 7

The CTD killed six suspected terrorists during an encounter on Faisalabad Bypass Road in Faisalabad District of Punjab. According to CTD Sheikhupura sources, the CTD Lahore on January 6 arrested two terrorists identified as Saadullah Khan and Jahanzeb Khan - allegedly involved in Gulshan Iqbal Park Lahore suicide blast. As per the details, the CTD Lahore team was taking the arrested terrorists to Kot Pindi Daas to arrest other terrorists when their alleged accomplices attacked the team and got released Saadullah Khan and Jahanzeb Khan. The incident led to a cross firing between Police party and suspected terrorists. Resultantly, six terrorists were killed while three others managed to escape. The CTD also recovered three motorcycles, Kalashnikovs, pistol, bullets and a huge cache of explosives and hand grenades from them.

The CTD personnel shot dead four suspected militants belonging to a banned outfit near the Sheikhupura Bypass in Sheikhupura District of Punjab in the wee hours. CTD officials claimed that they had been tipped off by intelligence sources regarding the presence of the suspected terrorists. Upon reaching the place, an armed conflict initiated between the CTD officials and the suspected militants. Four alleged terrorists were gunned down by CTD while three managed to flee. Police managed to recover arms, ammunition and explosive material from the suspected militants.

The CTD arrested two LeJ militants during raided on a house on Airport Road near railway line in Bahawalpur District of Punjab around 3pm. A CTD spokesman said they received information about the presence of 'terrorists' planning to attack some installation in Bahawalpur. A CTD team raided the house on Airport Road and arrested two LeJ militants, identified as Khalid Mahmood and Sajjad. Explosive material and two live grenades were recovered from their possession.

An ATC of Bahawalpur District in Punjab jailed two militant for 45 years for carrying explosives and illegal weapons. According to details, Riaz and Peerakh were found guilty of carrying explosives and illegal in the Kot Sabzal Police Station in 2014. After hearing arguments, ATC Judge Khalid Arshad sentenced them to 45 years. The court also ordered to confiscate their property and imposed Rs 500,000 fine each.

The Punjab Home Department issued a warning against possible terrorist attacks in Lahore, the provincial capital of Punjab. According to the notification, TTP trained boys aged about 10 to 12 years are currently in and around major cities of the country including Punjab. Upon investigation an arrested little boy revealed that he was tasked to attack an educational institute close to Abdali Chowk in Lahore. The warning also instructed further security for important installations and called for an immediate meeting of the District Intelligence Committee.

The Punjab Government giving a clean chit to all educational institutes - including 15,000 madrassas - has declared that no seminary or public and private institute is involved in teaching hate material to students. During the Punjab Assembly session, Law Minister Rana Sanaullah while commenting on a resolution moved by a treasury member Ms Hina Pervez Butt informed the House that the PML-N-led Punjab Government had registered all 15,000 madrassas, including 532 existing in 'Gray Areas' of the province. Rana Sanaullah confirmed that as many as 1.1 million students were enrolled in madrassas in which around 0.4 million students are enjoying boarding facilities, while 1300 students belong to foreign countries.

At least 14 persons were killed and 85 injured when a suicide bomber struck around 6pm outside the Punjab Assembly on Mall Road of Lahore, the provincial capital of Punjab, during a protest. IGP Punjab Mushtaq Ahmad Sukhera confirmed that six Police officials were among the dead, including two senior officers. DIG, Traffic, Lahore Captain (retd) Ahmad Mobin and SSP, Operations, Zahid Gondal of Punjab Police were among those killed in the attack. Hours earlier, DIG Mobin had been seen on television, mediating with the protesters gathered at the site. A large group of chemists and pharmaceutical manufacturers were gathered in front of the provincial assembly to protest a Government crackdown against the sale of illegal drugs. There was a significant presence of law enforcers in the area while the protest was ongoing. "The suicide attacker was on foot," CTD Chief Dr Mohammad Iqbal said. The JuA faction of TTP claimed responsibility for the attack.

Following the suicide attack on the Mall road of Lahore, Punjab's law enforcement agencies have launched a province-wide crackdown on militant outfits. The Provincial Intelligence Centre of the Punjab Home Department has issued a letter directing police high-ups to beef up security in different cities of the province. The letter has been circulated among the Divisional Commissioners, RPOs, CCPO of Lahore, Deputy Commissioners, CPO and District Police officers. An officer privy to the development told Dawn that the crackdown was ordered on the basis of intelligence reports suggesting that militants might have planned similar attacks in other cities. The Home Department has directed law enforcement agencies to ensure extreme vigilance and heightened security.

The CTD killed at least six suspected JuA militants in an operation in Chak 10-R 98 area of Khanewal District in Punjab. Four suspects managed to flee during the operation. The operation was carried out on a tip off regarding presence of militants in the area. JuA is an offshoot of TTP, which is responsible for the suicide blast in Lahore that killed 14 persons including two senior police officials on February 13.

The Punjab Government has included names of JuD chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed and one of his close aides, Qazi Kashif, in the fourth schedule of the ATA. Hafiz Saeed's name has also been put on the exit control list. A senior police officer privy to the development told Dawn that the CTD had added their names to the list of the 1,450 'fourth schedulers' on an order of the Federal Interior Ministry.

Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif, while addressing a press conference in Lahore, claimed that the suspects involved in planning and carrying out the February 13 suicide bombing on a protest at Mall road of Lahore. During the conference, CM Sharif also announced the arrest of an alleged facilitator of the attacker, who he said belonged to Bajaur Agency of FATA. The suspect's confessional statement was aired during the briefing. The suspect introduced himself as Anwar-ul-Haq, and said he hailed from a remote village in Bajaur Agency. "I was associated with Jamaat-ul-Ahrar and they trained me," said the suspect, adding that he has visited Afghanistan around 15 to 20 times.

The CTD killed five JuA militants in a shootout in Dera Sami Patti area of Chubara tehsil in Layyah District of Punjab. Three suspects managed to flee during the operation that was carried out on a tip off. Arms, ammunition and maps were recovered from the possession of the suspects.

The CTD in an operation arrested an alleged terrorist, Muhammad Jafar, belonging to a defunct organisation and recovered two kilogrammes of explosive material from a house near Sufi Mor on Jhang-Chiniot Road in Muzaffargarh District of Punjab.

Police arrested 21 suspects during house-to-house search operation, launched in Muzaffargarh. Accompanying law enforcers, the Police team encircled various areas of the District early morning and blocked traffic on road passing through the area. Police combed the areas and made biometric verifications of 1,200 people with the arrest of 21 suspects.

12 suspects were arrested after Police conducted search operations in separate areas of Lahore, the provincial capital of Punjab. The operations were conducted in Sher Shah Colony, Chong and Raiwind road and nearby areas, and resident's identities were scrutinised.

Punjab Government during a provincial apex committee meeting chaired by Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif decided to seek support from the Rangers to combat terrorism in Punjab days after the Mall Road suicide attack in Lahore that killed at least 15 people and wounded 85 others. The details regarding the nature and extent of support to be provided by the Rangers will be finalised later, according to a statement released by the Punjab Government.

The CTD conducted an operation in which six militants were killed in the Patti Sultan Mahmood area of Muzaffargarh District of Punjab. During the operation, three militants managed to escape. Five hand grenades, four rifles, three pistols and other weapons were recovered from the slain militants.

The Punjab Rangers have conducted over 200 search operations in various areas of Punjab including Karor, Layyah and Rawalpindi as Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad (Elimination of discord) continued across the country, ISPR statement said. According to the statement, suspected houses, Madrassas and shops were searched in the areas mentioned above.

One inspector was killed and a DSP was injured in an encounter with terrorists in Harrapa village of Sahiwal District in Punjab. According to CTD officials, in the shoot-out two terrorists were also injured, around four others were arrested and explosive material was recovered. The two other terrorists escaped from the site.

Three personnel of Punjab CIA were injured in a drive-by shooting incident near Lady Willingdon Hospital in Lahore, the provincial capital of Punjab. The assailants managed to flee after targeting Police officers. Police sources said that all three Police officers who are posted at Ghaziabad CIA were dressed in plain clothes and were returning home after performing their duty.

Three militants convicted by military courts were executed in the wee hour at Sahiwal District prison of Punjab, ISPR press release. According to the ISPR, the militants were involved in committing heinous offences relating to terrorism, including attacks on armed forces and law enforcement agencies. Sharing details of the executed convicts, ISPR said that two of the convicts - Said Zaman Khan and Muhammad Zeeshan - were cadres of HuJI. While the third convict was cadres of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan TTP. During its two-year constitutional life, the military courts, set up to try civilians charged with terrorism after the carnage at the Army Public School in Peshawar in December 16, 2014, have convicted 274 accused. Of them 161 were awarded death sentence and 113 prison terms, mostly life imprisonment. Out of 161 death sentences, 21 have been executed so far.

At least 19 suspects were arrested during joint search operations in various parts of Punjab. According to ISPR, the joint search and intelligence based operations were conducted by Punjab Rangers, Police and intelligence agencies in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Attock, Sialkot, Lahore and Kasur as part of Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad. At least 19 suspects were apprehended. Weapons, ammunition, laptops, currency, sectarian hate material and foreign passports were also seized.

Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad is successfully continuing across the country as at least 20 insurgents including a Ferrari commander surrendered to Pakistan Rangers Punjab, ISPR statement said. The erstwhile militants said they were funded by Indian spy agency RAW through Brahamdagh Bugti who leads the BRP. Apologising for their past which was awash with terror activities in Balochistan, the surrendering insurgents said they were kept misinformed and fed with negative narrative over the decades, the ISPR statement added.

The Airport Security Force (ASF) foiled a suspected terror bid at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore, the provincial capital of Punjab, by confiscating a cache of weapons and ammunition. A vehicle was stopped and searched by the ASF personnel at the airport check post and during a routine inspection a weapon and a large cache of ammunition was found in the vehicle, the ASF officials said. The ASF confiscated a .223 bore rifle, seven magazines, and dozens of bullets from the vehicle.

Five militants, affiliated to al Qaeda and TTP outfits, were killed by the CTD during an encounter in Kanja area of Gujrat District in Punjab. The CTD sources said the militants were planning to target secret installations in Gujrat and Kharian. Weapons and explosives were recovered from the possession of slain militants.

A prominent local leader of the Ahmadi community and a relative of Nobel laureate Abdus Salam was shot dead in Nankana Sahib town of Punjab in the morning in an attack claimed by the banned LeJ. Advocate Malik Saleem Latif, a leader of the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya in Nankana Sahib, was on his way to a local court on a motorbike along with his son, Advocate Farhan, when Latif was targeted and shot at by "unidentified attackers". "Saleem Latif was spreading Ahmadi beliefs in the region," the LeJ said in a statement claiming the attack. "Around 1,700 advertisements were published against the Ahmadiyya community in local and national newspapers in 2016," said Saleem Uddin, a spokesman for the community. "There is no check on hate mongering and if the situation remains the same then the killing of Ahmadis will also continue," he added.

Six people, including four Army soldiers and an off-duty Air Force airman, lost their lives after a suicide bomber targeted a census team in Lahore's Bedian Road area. At least 19 others were injured in the attack, according to the provincial Government. The TTP claimed the attack. The injured were shifted to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) and General Hospital. At least three of the injured were said to be in critical condition. One, identified as Lance Naik Irshad, lost his life while undergoing treatment.

The CTD of Punjab killed 10 JuA militants in the night at Manawan area of Lahore, the provincial capital of Punjab. The CTD said the terrorists killed in the 'encounter' were involved in Mall Road suicide attack. Days after the attack, CTD personnel had apprehended alleged facilitator Anwarul Haq. The law enforcers, on Haq's pointation, had also arrested his other accomplices. The sources said the CTD was taking the arrested facilitators to Manawan for recovery of explosives when their accomplices ambushed the team. In the retaliatory fire, 10 militants were killed including the facilitators of the attack.

One veterinary doctor Prof. Dr. Ashfaq Ahmed (68) who belongs to Ahmadi community was shot dead in a sectarian target killing in the Sabzazar area of Lahore. The doctor was being driven by his grandson when a motorcyclist pulled up next to their car and fired at point-blank range, killing him on the spot. His grandson, Shahzeb, remained unhurt, while the attacker, who was wearing a helmet, fled the scene. Prof Dr Ashfaq Ahmed had retired as a professor from Lahore University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences. Salim Uddin, a spokesperson for the Jamaat-i-Ahmadiyya Pakistan, condemned the attack and protested that the doctor was targeted because of his faith. "In a span of 10 days, this has been the second killing of an Ahmadi. There is a campaign of hate against the Ahmadiyya community and as a cost, innocent people are killed. On the one hand, the government boasts about the Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad and on the other, people are being killed along religious lines in broad daylight," read an excerpt from a press release issued by the Anjum-i-Ahmadiyya Pakistan.

Five terrorists and Pakistan Ranger Punjab personnel killed during an IBO in Chhera Thal area of Dera Ghazi Khan District of Punjab. According to the ISPR, in sequel to Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad, Pakistan Rangers Punjab started special IBO in the area of Chhera Thal, 40 kilometres South West of Fort Manro, in the early hours and was continuing till the mid day. During trade of fire, Sepoy Kamran was killed while Deputy Superintendent Rangers Haroon got injured.

Two "hardcore terrorists" tried by Military Courts were hanged in a high security prison in Sahiwal District. The ISPR statement said the two convicts were awarded the capital punishment for offences related to terrorism, including the killing of civilians, attacking armed forces and law enforcement agencies, and assaults on polio vaccination teams and employees of an NGO. The hanged militants were identified as Muhammad Shahid Omar, who was an active member of TTP, and Fazl-i-Haq, an active member of the TTP, who was also accused of kidnapping and amputating the hands of four Police officials.

Seven JuA militants were arrested by the CTD at Severra Chowk in Multan town of same District. According to the CTD spokesperson, the militants were stationed at Severra Chowk and were caught with hand grenades and heavy explosives in their possession. The CTD had received information that the militants were planning to attack vital installations within the city, after which they conducted a raid near Severra Chowk, the spokesperson added.

A raid conducted by CTD officials in Gujranwala town resulted in the arrest of two suspected terrorists who belong to proscribed organisations. The raid was conducted after the law enforcement agency received information that the pair was planning to attack sensitive installations within the vicinity of Sialkot. During the raid, the CTD team recovered explosive material and detonation equipment from their possession.

One militant was killed and three of his accomplices apprehended during combing operation in Factory Area of Lahore. According to Police, the terrorists opened fire on the security personnel during joint combing operation in the area and in the ensuing gunfight, a terrorist was killed and three security personnel sustained injuries. Three militants were arrested by the law enforcers. A suicide vest, detonators and weapons were seized from the site where exchange of fire took place

At least nine militants and three Pakistan Rangers personnel were killed during an exchange of fire in Basti Dadwani near Choti Zareen area of Dera Ghazi Khan. The ISPR said "9-10 hardcore terrorists" affiliated with the TTP were killed during the joint security operation launched by Rangers, intelligence agencies and CTD personnel near Choti Zareen area. Among the slain militants included Muhammad Asghar Dadwani alias Ustad Gorchani and Muhammad Naeem alias Waqas Dadwani. The Punjab Rangers personnel slain in the shootout were identified as Havildar Asif, Sepoy Aftab and Sepoy Azizullah. Two soldiers also sustained injuries.

One militant was killed and three of his accomplices apprehended during combing operation in Factory Area of Lahore, the provincial capital of Punjab. According to Police, the terrorists opened fire on the security personnel during joint combing operation in the area and in the ensuing gunfight, a terrorist was killed and three security personnel sustained injuries. Three militants were arrested by the law enforcers. A suicide vest, detonators and weapons were seized from the site where exchange of fire took place.

Two suspects, identified as Ramzan Khan and an Afghan national, were taken into custody from Cantonment area of Lahore city. The arrested due is suspected to be involved in Bedian Road, Lahore terror incident.

The LEA apprehended two suspects from Bhatta Chowk of Lahore city. The duo was arrested for their involvement in Charing Cross incident.

LEA arrested a terrorist, identified as Omar alias Sufiyan, at Saddar area of Ghazi Road in Lahore city. He is said to be close aide of militant and proclaimed offender Azeem aka Fauji.

Naureen Leghari, the wife of militant Ali Tariq who was killed in an encounter in Lahore in Punjab in the night of April 14, had allegedly joined the militant Islamic State (IS) in Syria. According to sources, the woman had physically taken part in the encounter and had engaged police personnel for about an hour. Naureen Leghari, who was arrested during the encounter, had married her husband after leaving her home and joining the militants. Sources said that Leghari had allegedly visited Syria to join IS after leaving her home in February. She had also received training in Syria for using weapons, they said. She returned home to Lahore three weeks ago and was being tracked by security personnel.

Naureen Leghari was a medical student of the Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences in Jamshoro, Sindh. She had reportedly been contacted by militants through social media.

Lahore Police also arrested Hafeez, the owner of the house where the encounter took place, and a property dealer, Ayub, and were conducting raids to arrest Azeem, a facilitator of the militants who is said to be a leader of the IS. The law enforcement agencies had announced PKR 1 million head money for his arrest.

The Security Forces in Lahore also arrested four people suspected of being linked with the IS network in the city.

The CTD of Punjab Police killed eight militants by busting a 'big' cell of the TTP in the Narang area of Sheikhupura District of Punjab. Two CTD officials were injured in the shootout, a handout issued by the department's spokesman said. The killed militants had planned to carry out a major terrorist plan in Lahore in the near future, the CTD said. The CTD team also recovered weapons and explosives from the possession of the militants including more than three kilogrammes of explosives, prima cord, three Kalashnikov rifles, five pistols and ammunition.

A total of 113 most-wanted terrorists hail from various districts of Punjab revealed a Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control report. According to the document, 19 most-wanted terrorists hail from Lahore. Eight most-wanted militants belong each to Sargodha and Faisalabad districts. Rawalpindi, a city located next to the federal capital, is also the residential address of six-most wanted terrorists in the list. Likewise, five militants each hail from districts of Rahimyar Khan, Sheikhupura, Bhakkar, Multan and Attock districts. The document revealed that no wanted terrorist belonged to Sialkot, Jhelum, Hafizabad, Vehari, Narowal, Okara, Chiniot, and Rajanpur. However, some suspected militants from these districts have been added to the schedule four of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.

The document has divided wanted-terrorists into three categories. In the first category, there are about 22 terrorists involved in suicide attacks. Punjab Home Department has also notified head money of PKR 50.33 million for 73 wanted militants out of a total 113, according to the report. Matiur Rehman from Bahawalpur continues to lead the list with a head money of PKR 10 million. His childhood friend Qari Ehsan (head money PKR 5 million) is the second most wanted militant. They have been wanted since December 2013, when they orchestrated suicide attacks against the then president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf. The first category also included the profiles of Zubair alias Mughaira from Bahawalpur district and Ziaur Rehman from Khanewal district. Both the militants are wanted for attacking the ISI office in Qasim Bela, district Multan, on December 8, 2009. Hafiz M Sohail, M Niaz and Zaheer Ahmed from Attock have also been added to the list for their alleged role in masterminding the suicide attack against late Punjab home minister Shuja Khanzada. A terrorist Saad Munir from Rawalpindi is also wanted in connection with his alleged role in the murder of an American citizen. The second category contains the profiles of 62 alleged Sunni militants and the third the profiles of 29 alleged Shia militants. Out of total 62 Sunni militants, nine are from Lahore and eight from Faisalabad. Rahimyar Khan District is home to five wanted militants, while three each are from Multan, Mianwali, Rawalpindi and Sargodha.

The CTD got 14 day remand of three alleged terrorists from a court in Gujranwala. The CTD team arrested Sher Khan, Khyber Khan and Faisal Akbar during a raid at Alam Chowk in Gujranwala on April 24 and seized explosives from them.

The JeM has started its fund raising campaign in Punjab as the harvest season for major Rabi crops sets in. In the latest issue of JeM's weekly online magazine (accessed on April 25), its charity wing al-Rehmat Trust invited Ushr contributions for supporting the "families of martyrs, detainees of Islam and ghazis" along with the "seminaries, religious centres and the needy". Ushr is an agricultural equivalent of Zakat, where a portion of agricultural produce is given away as charity.

SFs recovered an enormous store of arms from a car in Kot Pindi Das in Sheikhupura city. The Motorway Police recovered approximately a hundred rifles, Kalashnikov rifles, pistols, and a huge cache of bullets from a car, two suspects have been arrested. According to Motorway Police, the accused were transporting the arms and ammunition from Islamabad to Lahore.

The Motorway Police recovered a cache of arms and ammunition near Pindi Das area in Sheikhupura District of Punjab. The Police said the arms were recovered near Pindi Das area from a car but no arrest was made as the two men travelling in the vehicle managed to flee. Around 100 rifles, Kalashnikovs and guns were recovered beside huge cache of cartridges, the Police said, adding that the arms were recovered from hidden parts of the vehicle. The Police said the arms were being brought to Lahore from Islamabad and were supposed to be used in acts of terrorism.

A 62-year-old Ahmadi man, identified as Basharat Ahmad, was shot dead in a suspected sectarian attack in Saddar area of Rahim Yar Khan District in Punjab in the night. Basharat Ahmad was on his way to his house in Green Town from a petrol pump situated in Zahir Pir Road when unidentified assailants intercepted him and opened fire on him. The reason behind the murder is yet to be ascertained. However, Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya spokesperson Saleemuddin claimed Ahmad was targeted because of his religious beliefs. "Ahmad had no enmity and was gunned down because of the hate campaign against Ahmadis," the spokesperson said.

SFs conducted joint operations in Lahore, Attock, Islamabad, Sialkot, Narowal, Sheikhupura, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rahim Yar Khan and Rajanpur cities of Punjab and recovered arms and ammunition from several suspected persons.

The CTD of Punjab claimed to have killed four terrorists of a banned outfit in Jahanian area of Khanewal District. According to CTD, terrorist Usman Basra and Abdul Rehman were hiding in a house along with their associates when the cops launched action. Four terrorists including Usman Basra and Abdul Rehman were killed in the gunfight with CTD personnel. The CTD officials recovered 10 kilograms of explosives, hand grenades and other weapons from the site of shootout.

The CTD conducted an operation near general bus stand in Gujranwala town of same District in Punjab and arrested a suspected terrorist allegedly belonging to the Islamic State. The CTD spokesperson informed media that explosive material, detonators and other ammunition was also seized from the arrested suspect. He further said that the suspect was planning to target sensitive installations in Gujranwala.

The Lahore Police have finalised a four-tier security plan for Youm-e-Ali (AS). Under the plan, more than 7,000 Security Force personnel would provide a security cover to the main mourning procession. A number of CCTV cameras have also been installed on sensitive points across the city, while a police van equipped with latest technology will also monitor police activity.

Pakistan Rangers Punjab foiled a major terror bid in Dera Ghazi Khan District of Punjab, killing two militants who were planning a terrorist activity on Youm-e-Ali processions on June 17. According to ISPR statement, the Pakistan Rangers Punjab launched intelligence based operation in Dera Ghazi Khan as part of Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad and during exchange of fire two terrorists were killed.

Pakistan Rangers (Punjab) and the CTD of Punjab Police claimed to have arrested 23 members of banned outfits in joint operations in various areas of the Punjab. Officials of the law enforcement agencies also recovered a huge quantity of illegal weapons, ammunition and bulletproof jackets from their possession. The suspects were allegedly involved in facilitating terrorists. According to a news release, Pakistan Rangers (Punjab) and CTD jointly carried out operations in tehsils Kharian and Sarai Alamgir of Gujrat District. The agencies searched houses in both tehsils and arrested 20 suspects said to be involved in facilitating terrorists. They also recovered a huge cache of arms, ammunition and bulletproof jackets. The suspects were later shifted to undisclosed locations for interrogation. The joint operations were part of Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad, which was launched on February 22 after a string of terrorist attacks across the country.

The CTD arrested three TTP cadres from Bahawalpur whom they claimed were plotting an attack in the city on Eid. They also recovered explosives and suicide jackets from their possession. A CTD spokesman claimed that acting on a tip-off that the TTP was planning to attack a sensitive installation in Bahawalpur, a local CTD team conducted a raid at around 1:30pm at a house near Quaid Colony and arrested three suspects belonging to the TTP. Terrorists were identified as Gohar Ali, Muhammad Yousaf and Zamurad Khan.

A report of the PILDAT shared at a public forum has stated that terrorist activities in Punjab have declined by 33 per cent. Punjab has apparently improved its performance in the implementation of the NAP during first quarter (January-March) of 2017 as compared to performance in previous two years (2015-2016), said the report. The report records a decrease of 33 per cent in terrorism incidents in Punjab during the period under review. "Punjab had witnessed 12 major terrorist attacks during 2015-2016, bringing the average to 1.5 during each quarter compared to one terrorist incidence during the first quarter of 2017." It added, "Of the 15 points pertaining to the performance of Punjab on the implementation of the NAP, the first quarter of 2017 has recorded upward progress on the implementation of points No 3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 14, 15 in Punjab." The remaining eight points reflect unchanged implementation levels that do not reflect a regression on status of implementation of NAP in Punjab during the first quarter of 2017, it said.

Four militants were arrested in separate raids by SFs from Gujranwala and Dera Ghazi Khan District of Punjab. The first joint intelligence based operation was conducted in Dera Ghazi Khan by Pakistan Rangers Punjab, Police and intelligence agencies. Two militants were arrested along with cache of arms and ammunition. The ISPR press statement said the weapons and ammunition was being transported for terrorist activities in major cities of Punjab and Sindh.

The Punjab CTD conducted an operation on an intelligence report in Gujranwala and arrested two militants. The arrested terrorists were identified as Muhammad Sufiyan and Zaheerud Din," the CTD said. CTD officials said that explosives, detonators and weapons were seized from the arrested terrorists.

At least 26 persons, including nine Policemen, were killed and 56 others injured in a suicide blast near the Arfa Karim IT Tower on the Ferozepur Road of Lahore, the provincial capital of Punjab, in the afternoon. The suicide attack was carried out during the demolition of the old fruit and vegetable market. The suicide bomber was aged between 16 to 18 years, apparently riding a bike, reached the spot where the Police were standing guard to avert any retaliation from the owners of the buildings being demolished for a park. The bomber - carrying a suicide jacket weighing at least 12 kilogrammes of explosives, including ball bearings - triggered the button at 3:55pm. The impact of the blast was so huge that it shook the Arfa Karim Tower like an earthquake as ball bearings shattered a number of windowpanes. Three bikes and a car were damaged in the blast. The incident occurred just a few meters away from 180-H Model Town - the Chief Minister's camp office, exposing the so-called combing search operations and maintenance of law and order in the provincial metropolis. TTP claimed responsibility for the attack.

The ISPR said at least 19 suspects were arrested during joint search operations in different areas of Punjab. According to the statement issued by ISPR, the joint search operations were conducted by Punjab Rangers, Police and intelligence agencies. Operations were conducted in Dera Ghazi Khan, Rojhan, Lahore, Narowal, Rawalpindi and Attock. Nineteen suspects were apprehended while cache of weapons and ammunition were also recovered.

The Punjab CTD shot dead three TTP militants during a raid at University Road of Gujrat Town in same District of Punjab. According to CTD's spokesperson, Police, on a tip-off, conducted a raid and killed three militants after a heavy exchange of fire, while three others managed to escape. CTD has recovered four detonators and other explosive materials from the custody of the slain militants.

The CTD killed four TTP militants in an encounter near Sagian Bridge in Lahore, the provincial capital of Punjab. According to CTD, Police were deployed at all entry and exit points of Punjab's capital as the threats of more attacks were looming after a blast early on the day, when the cops approached a vehicle to search, the militants in that vehicle restored to firing. CTD police effectively responded and in retaliation four of them got killed, while three others managed to escape the scene having an advantage of darkness, spokesperson of CTD added. CTD recovered a cache of arms and ammunition from the custody of the slain militants.

One person was killed and 37 others were injured in a truck bomb that ripped through Bund Road area of Lahore. As per details, the explosive material was planted inside a truck which was loaded with fruit. It is yet to ascertain that how and when the truck arrived in the area. According to eyewitnesses, it was a powerful blast which damaged, partially or heavily, more than 100 vehicles, such as cars, mini-trucks and motorcycles parked at the stand. A large number of people in the area came out on roads after the explosion. The blast was heard in several areas of the city in the radius of four to five kilometres of the site. The high voltage wires (132kV) from Saggian Grid Station were also damaged leaving the area in darkness.

One ISI personnel was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Cantonment Bazaar of Multan District in Punjab. Mahar Muhammad Yasir Manzoor was riding a motorcycle in Cantonment bazaar when the assailants on a vehicle shot at and killed him in a drive-by shooting with pistols at 8:37am. The deceased official was the resident of Maisli area in Vehari District.

SFs arrested seven TTP militants and 20 Afghan suspects during various operations conducted over the last 72 hours in Punjab, ISPR said. The statement adds the search operations had been carried out jointly by Punjab Rangers, Police and intelligence agencies in Attock, Dera Ghazi Khan and Lahore. Explosive material and weapons had also been recovered from the militants affiliated with the TTP.

Punjab Police successfully recovered the seven Policemen, who were kidnapped by a group of bandits from the Kacha area of Rajanpur District, in an operation after a heavy exchange of fire. According to details, Police launched an operation on the directives of Punjab CM Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif for safe recovery of the kidnapped Policemen at the earliest and successfully recovered them after heavy exchange of fire. The kidnappers managed to escape due to the advantage of darkness. Seven Policemen, included Luqman, Zeeshan, Sabir, Shakir, Jamshed, Safdar and Muzammil, were on their way to a picket of Nabi Shah on a boat were abducted by 15 dacoits from the riverine area of River Indus in the limits of Bangla Ichha Police Station on August 20. Rajanpur DPO Attiq Tahir said that the head of Patt gang Attaullah was involved in the incident who escaped during the operation.

At least 13 suspected persons were arrested on September 2 during a joint IBO in Punjab, an ISPR statement said. The statement adds that Punjab Rangers and Police conducted the first operation in Dera Ghazi Khan District and arrested seven key facilitators wanted for extortion and other criminal activities in Punjab and Balochistan. In a separate operation in Lahore, Rangers, police and intelligence personnel took six suspects, including two unregistered Afghan nationals, into custody. Weapons and ammunition were also seized from the suspects, it added.

Punjab Government opposed the release of mastermind of Mumbai terror attack and chief of JuD, Hafiz Saeed, informing the Lahore High Court that freeing the cleric from house arrest is likely to create unrest in the province. Punjab Home Department submitted a written reply in the court during the hearing of an appeal for Saeed's release, stating that he was put under house arrest under the anti-terrorism laws to stop him from collecting funds - which is a violation of various resolutions of the United Nations. A K Khokar, Saeed's counsel, argued in court that his client's detention was illegal and baseless, thus the order of keeping him under house arrest be immediately withdrawn. "The defendant was put under house arrest after the US threatened to cut Pakistan's aid, it was done without any cases being registered against him," Khokhar told the court. The judges, however, pointed out to Saeed's lawyer that he had not mentioned about US's alleged pressure in the case. They said that the defendant's application is based on a news clipping. Punjab's home department, however, pointed out that various cases were registered against members of JuD for collecting hides during the three days of Eid-ul-Azha in contempt of the ministry's orders. "Cases were also registered against the party for collecting funds in contempt of the provincial ministry's orders," the reply said. The court asked Khokhar to come up with more argument in the next hearing and adjourned the case until September 15.

Two terrorists belonging to LeJ were killed in an encounter with the CTD officials at Chak 83/M area of Jalalpur Pirwala tehsil in Multan District. One of the deceased militants was identified as Ijaz Asghar. The CTD personnel recovered three hand grenades, a rifle and a pistol from the scene.

SFs foiled a plot to target Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and arrested a suspected terrorist with a suicide jacket. Security sources on an intelligence tip identified a 'terrorist' serving as a driver in a house located in Block H of Model Town of Lahore.

Pakistan Rangers Punjab and Police carried out patrolling/flag marches in important areas of major cities in Punjab. The ISPR said that extensive intelligence based operations were carried out in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Multan, DG Khan, Lahore, Sialkot, Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan. During these operations, 27 suspects were arrested and a cache of illegal weapons was seized. The CTD arrested four suspected terrorists from Multan, seizing a sizeable quantity of arms and explosives from them. The CTD conducted a raid on a tip-off and arrested four activists of banned outfit, who were identified as Nasir, Ali, Tahir and Shafqat. The CTD also claimed to have seized six hand grenades, two pistols, one IED, two kilogrammes of explosives, three-meter detonating cord, eight-meter safety, and 10 detonators from the suspects.

The CTD shot dead two suspected militant at Sher Shah Bund area of Multan District in Punjab. According to CTD, they, on tip-off, carried out a raid in Sher Shah Bund area about the presence of terrorists linked to the banned outfit, as the cops approached their hideout they restored to firing. In retaliation two of the terrorists got killed. However, three other managed to escape taking the advantage of darkness. Explosive material and sophisticated weapons were recovered from the possession of slain militants.

Punjab Government withdrew terrorism charges against JuD chief Hafiz Saeed and his group, paving way for the possible release. A Punjab Government official told a review board of Supreme Court on October 14 that the provincial government did not include charges of terrorism in the new order for Hafiz Saeed and his aides. Authorities had earlier detained Saeed under ATA. Saeed's lawyer A.K. Dogar had urged the court to order the release of Saeed and his four aides since they are no longer under ATA. The Lahore High Court is expected to decide his application in the coming week after Justice Muzahir Naqvi asked the Government to file charges against Saeed. He had warned the Government earlier this week that Saeed would be freed unless evidence was presented against the JuD leader.

An official of the Punjab Home Department told a provincial review board comprising judges of the Lahore High Court that keeping JuD's chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed and his four aides under detention was critical for the maintenance of law and order. The board was hearing a Punjab Government application seeking extension in the detention of Saeed and his four aides. The official said that the Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs had ample material to justify detention of the JuD leaders. He said the UN had banned the JuD and its leaders had been detained on direction of the Federal Government.

A provincial review board comprising judges of the Lahore High Court approved one-month extension in detention of JuD chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed but turned down a Government request for extending detention of four other leaders of the organisation. The Police presented Saeed and his aides Qazi Kashif Niaz, Prof. Zafar Iqbal, Abdul Rehman Abid and Abdullah Ubaid before the board amid strict security. Senior officials from Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs along with Government's law officers also appeared and assisted the board's members during in-camera proceedings. The board comprises Justice Muhammad Yawar Ali, Justice Abdul Sami Khan and Justice Alia Neelum. After hearing the Government authorities and lawyers, the board approved extension in the detention period of Hafiz Saeed for one month but refused to extend detention of other four JuD leaders. They would stand freed on October 26 when their detention period expires. The Punjab Government had detained the JuD leaders under the Maintenance of Pubic Order as recommended by the Federal Government.

Missing journalist Zeenat Shahzadi who went missing more than two years ago returned home safe and sound - much to the surprise of the family. Zeenat Shahzadi, who was affiliated with a private TV channel, went missing on August 19, 2015 while travelling to her office in an auto-rickshaw in Lahore. According to witnesses, Shahzadi had been whisked away by gunmen riding in two cars who intercepted the three-wheeler she was travelling in. The Express Tribune called up Shahzadi's mother for her reaction but could not get through. "I've spoken to Shahzadi's mother and she has confirmed that her daughter has returned home," IA Rehman, veteran Human Rights campaigner and former chairperson Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said. However, Rehman wouldn't say who had recovered Shahzadi and how. "The good news is that she is back at her home. Details of her recovery will trickle in," he said. Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal, President of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances, told the BBC that Shahzadi had been recovered from an area on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border on Thursday night. "Non-state actors and anti-state agencies had abducted her and she has been recovered from their custody," Iqbal added. "Tribal elders from Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa played a role in her recovery."

The CTD arrested two militants and seized explosive material from their possession near the Central Imambargah (Shia place of worship) located in Fawara Chowk in Hafizabad city of same District.

Punjab Rangers with Police and Intelligence Agencies conducted operations, patrolling and snap checking in Dera Ghazi Khan, Attock, Islamabad and Lahore. Sixteen militants, facilitators and smugglers were arrested; also a number of weapons and explosives were recovered from them.

The Attorney-General for Pakistan Ashtar Ausaf Ali, presented 'sensitive' documents before a judge of the Lahore High Court in his chamber to defend detention of Jama'at-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed.

Unidentified motorcycle borne assailants killed two Pakistani employees of Turkish waste management company, Albayrak, and injured one other in the firing in Rawalpindi city.

NACTA responsible for countering internal terrorism has asked the Home Department to enhance security for the detained perpetrator of Mumbai terror attacks Hafiz Saeed leader of JuD , claiming that a "foreign spy agency" was planning to kill him through members of a banned militant outfit. Saeed is currently being kept at his residence+, 116-E, in Johar town, Lahore in Punjab. NACTA has sent a letter to Lahore-based Home Department Punjab, claiming that a foreign spy agency had paid Rs 80 million to two activists of a proscribed militant group to kill Saeed, suggesting the Home Department to ensure strict security measures in the surroundings of Saeed's Lahore residence, which has been declared a prison for him by the Punjab's Government.

The Punjab Government has removed the names of MPA Masroor Nawaz Jhangvi and 300 others from the Fourth Schedule, a list of terror suspects on the recommendation of a committee responsible for maintaining the list. MPA Masroor, after his victory in the PP-78 Jhang-II by-poll in 2016, had joined the JUI-F after objections were raised over his affiliation with the banned Sipah-e-Sahaba (renamed Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat). His name was placed in the Fourth Schedule of the ATA 1997 on May 9, 2014.

Authorities have issued a terror alert for the Punjab Province. Officials said that Political Administration and Security Agencies issued a 'Red alert' after receiving reports about a suicide bomber identified as Talha, member of a banned militant group, JuA, who walked with a limp as he had lost a leg in an IED explosion. The militant has sneaked into Kurram Agency from Khost province of Afghanistan.

Punjab Rangers arrested four suspected militants belonging to the banned TTP in an IBO in Dera Ghazi Khan District in Punjab. The militants were allegedly involved in killing of Police officials in KP and Punjab, said a statement issued by ISPR. Automatic weapons including grenades were also recovered from the militants during the raid.

Lahore High Court, adjourned hearing of a petition of JuD 'chief' Hafiz Saeed against his detention to wait for a decision on the matter by a PRB.

The Police arrested two persons after recovery of weapons during search from a car outside Gujranwala District and Sessions Court.

Two separate teams of provincial CTD conducted IBOs in Gujranwala and Rawalpindi Districts and arrested four TTP militants. The militants were identified as Muhammad Irfan who was arrested in Rawalpindi, and Abdul Wahab, Mudassar Nazir and Iqbal arrested in Gujranwala. CTD also recovered explosives and automatic weapons from the militants.

A Review Board comprising the Chair of Justice Abdul Sami Khan, Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan and Justice Aalia Neelum of the LHC, ordered the release of JuD chief and Lashkar-e-Toiba leader Hafiz Saeed, on expiry of his 30-day detention if he was not required in any other case. The Officers from FM and Punjab Home Department presented the documentary record in support of the detention of Hafiz Saeed.

The CTD killed four TTP militants in an overnight shootout on Sargodha-Faisalabad Road in the jurisdiction of Nishatabad Police Station in Faisalabad District. Three other militants however managed to escape the encounter. Two Kalashnikovs, pistols, three kilogrammes of explosive material, two detonators and two motorcycles were recovered from the slain militants. CTD, Faisalabad, had set up a check-post based on intelligence.

Two militants were killed by CTD while three others managed to escape the raid, in Gujrat District in Punjab. The CTD Spokesman informed that explosive material including hand-grenades and arms were recovered from the dead militants.

CTD carried out an operation on the Muzaffargarh Road in Multan District in Punjab and arrested three militants. The arrested militants were experts in manufacturing bombs and explosive material.

JuD 'chief' Hafiz Saeed led a rally to launch a countrywide campaign against US President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, outside the JuD headquarters in Chauburji in Lahore. Saeed said the Pakistani Government should immediately convene a Joint Session of Parliament to discuss the issue. Saeed said the Defence Council Pakistan (DCP) will send its delegations to Muslim countries and convince them not to open their embassies in Jerusalem.

National Coordinator of NACTA Ihsan Ghani along with other Senior Officials of the Authority visited the ISPR in Rawalpindi District. He discussed with the DG ISPR Major General Asif Ghafoor about cooperation with the ISPR for NACTA's counter terrorism efforts. The DG ISPR assured him of ISPR's support.

Punjab Rangers along with Police and Intelligence Agencies arrested 12 facilitators of militants during IBOs conducted in Attock, Rawalpindi and Sargodha Districts.

SFs comprising Punjab Rangers, CTD, Punjab Police and Intelligence Agencies conducted IBOs and arrested 19 militants, including facilitators, across Sargodha, Bhakar, DG Khan, Attock and Lahore Districts.

ASF has increased safety measures at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore, amid increased threat of attack by militants.

LEA beefed up security of churches and other sensitive places in view of upcoming festival of Christmas across multiple districts in Punjab. RPO Muhammad Idrees Ahmad issued directives to the Police Heads in Multan, Vehari, Khanewal and Lodhran Districts to ensure protection of worship places.

DGMO Major General Sahir Shamshad Mirza briefed the Senators on the progress of Operation Radd-ul-Fassad. He confirmed that under the Radd-ul-Fassad, at least 18,001 IBOs were conducted across Pakistan (periods not specified). Giving further details he said that 1,249 IBOs had been conducted in KP and the FATA, including 31 major operations; 13,011 operations had been conducted in Punjab, including seven major operations; 1,410 operations, including 29 major operations, were undertaken in Balochistan; 2015 operations, including seven major operations, were conducted in Sindh. No break up was provided for rest 242 IBOs. There were another 4,983 search-based combing operations (across Pakistan). At least 19,993 weapons were also recovered during these operations. Further, briefing on Karachi, he said that since the launch of the Rangers operation in Karachi in 2013, at least 8,780 suspects had been transferred to the Police; 12,105 weapons were seized and 1,948 militants were arrested; 154 abductees had been freed from captivity and 154 kidnappers were arrested; and 24 soldiers had been killed (period for the data not specified).

Two suspected militants were killed by personnel of the CTD during a raid in a compound near Jalalpur Pirwala in Multan District. One of the slain militant was identified as M Ajmal, the identity of the other killed militant has not been ascertained yet. Three other militants managed to escape.

Representatives of different religious and political organisations and ambassadors of Muslim countries while addressing at 'Labbaik YA Al-Aqsa Conference' held in Lahore in Punjab, under aegis of Pakistan Ulema Council announced to reject US President Donald Trump declaration for relocation of US Embassy to Jerusalem.

CTD arrested three militants from Faisalabad District. Arms and ammunition, including explosives and detonators, were recovered from the arrested militants. CTD (unnamed) officials said they were planning an attack on the office of a security agency.

The Ministry of Interior has termed the MML an offshoot of proscribed entities including JuD, FIF and LeT; and opposed its registration as a political party with the ECP. The Ministry in its written reply submitted to the Islamabad High Court on a petition filed by MML seeking its registration with the ECP requested the Court not to consider MML's plea and dismiss the petition accordingly. It also mentioned that a Security Agency opined that "it is difficult to believe that MML will tread its own path, completely at variance with its mother (LeT and JuD) organisations".

JuD 'chief' and LeT founder Hafiz Saeed inaugurated the Milli Muslim League (MML)'s office on Mohni Road in National Assembly (NA) constituency-120 in Lahore in Punjab.

Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif said that 1400 Police Personnel had been killed during 'war on terror' (period not specified).

PTI Chairman Imran Khan announced his party's support for PAT led by Tahirul Qadri protest against Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif and Law Minister Rana Sanaullah for the Model Town incident on June 17 2014.

The Executive Board of the NAB approved filing of six new corruption references, including illegal construction of a road to residence, against former PM and PML-N Nawaz Sharif and his brother & Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif.

CTD acting on prior intelligence arrested two TTP militants in Gujranwala District. The militants identified as Imran and Abubakar were allegedly planning to attack office of LEA. Arms, explosives and detonators were recovered from them.