Punjab Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) announced on Saturday that it has successfully foiled a major terrorist plot, arresting 10 members of various banned organizations.

The arrests, made during 73 intelligence-based operations across multiple districts, included two high-profile Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) operatives apprehended in Khushab and Rawalpindi.

A CTD spokesperson revealed that the operations resulted in the seizure of a significant amount of explosives, including 2690 grams of explosives, 19 detonators, 35 feet of safety fuse wire, one improvised explosive device (IED), banned organization pamphlets and magazines, mobile phones, and cash.

The spokesperson identified some of the arrested terrorists as Riaz, Shafiq, Rashid, Zaheeruddin, Hafiz, and Asif, stating that they were affiliated with the Fitna Khawarij group, the government’s term used to refer to TTP since last year, and other organizations.

The spokesperson stated that the terrorists were planning attacks on important buildings in Lahore and other major cities. Ten cases have been registered against the suspects, and investigations are ongoing.

In addition to the targeted operations, the CTD conducted 758 combing operations this week in collaboration with local police and security agencies. These operations resulted in the checking of 30,394 individuals, the arrest of 107 suspects, the registration of 102 FIRs, and 70 recoveries.

The CTD spokesperson reiterated the department’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of Punjab, vowing to continue its efforts to apprehend terrorists and anti-state elements.

According to a report from Islamabad-based think tank Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, there were 79 terrorist attacks throughout the country in February 2025. A total of 156 terrorists were killed and 66 arrested in operations by security forces.