Lahore

Law enforcement agencies have foiled a major terror plot in Pakistan’s Punjab province with the arrest of 24 militants, most of them linked to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), officials said on Saturday.

According to a statement issued by the Punjab Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), the arrests were made during a series of intelligence-based operations conducted across multiple districts this week. The operations — 364 in total — led to the recovery of weapons, explosives and other prohibited material from the suspects.

Among those arrested, 11 are confirmed members of the TTP. Authorities seized around 5 kg of explosives, 24 detonators and four bombs from the busted network. Initial investigations suggest the militants had planned attacks on key government buildings in major cities of the province.

The CTD said that 24 separate cases have been registered against the accused, and further investigations are underway.

Punjab has been on heightened alert in recent weeks amid increasing terror incidents in neighbouring Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Security tightening was further accelerated after last month’s suicide attack in Islamabad, which left 12 people dead.

Following the attack, Punjab police were directed to step up security across courts, bars and judicial premises. Officers have been ordered to conduct daily and weekly inspections of security protocols.

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Inspector General of Punjab Police Dr Usman Anwar also issued new weapon regulations, stating that only law enforcement personnel are permitted to carry firearms on court premises. He instructed officers to set up dedicated command and control centres at courts in every district.