ISLAMABAD: The Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was set to attack thePakistan Super League (PSL) matches held in Lahore but the plan was avertedand the terrorists were arrested during a joint operation conducted by theCounter-Terrorism Department (CTD), Punjab, and Intelligence Bureau (IB),The News has learnt.
“They were planning to target the PSL in general and some political figuresin particular,” an official privy to the details said. Although, the CTDspokesman was reluctant to confirm such arrests, an official involved inthe operation said the CTD received the lead from its Gujranwala officewhereas the operation was carried out by the commandos of IB.
The CTD, Punjab, a newly-raised specialised provincial force forcounter-terrorism, and IB have busted many terrorist networks throughcoordinated operations. Among them are the arrests of those involved in thesuicide explosion at Wagah Border, Lahore, attack on two churches atYouhanabad, Lahore, suicide attack at Sardar Amjad Khan Khosa’s residence,suicide blasts in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park, Lahore, and the attack that tookthe lives of DIG Ahmed Mubin and SSP Zubair Akram Gondal during a suicideblast at the Mall Road, Lahore.
They also apprehended bandits of the infamous Choto gang who had fledduring the operation Zarb-e-Ahan carried out by the army.
They were involved in more than 50 heinous cases of murder, robberies,kidnapping-for-ransom, etc. Unearthing of Daesh network is also credited tothem with the IB playing the lead role as it was involved in country-wideoperations. The operation against the Lashkar-e-Jangvi network is apartfrom it.
The IB, a civil intelligence agency has been radically transformed in thelast five years under the watch of Aftab Sultan, who will leave the chargenext week. Khaliq Dad Lak, a BS-22 police officer presently posted in theagency, is set to replace him.