Islamabad: Pakistani security forces
arrested at least 24 terror suspects during operations in
Punjab province and the restive northwest, including the Swat
valley, authorities said on Thursday.
Eighteen militants were apprehended during search and
clearance operations conducted by security forces in different
parts of Swat. Five militants also surrendered to authorities
in the region, the military said.
In the Waziristan tribal region, troops captured two
Afghan suspects and seized a cache of arms and ammunition in
Razmak sector.
Security forces also cleared 50 militant-held compounds
and bunkers in this area.
The military said a "large number of suspects" were
captured during search and clearance operations at different
places in Jandola sector.
Police arrested four militants and seized four suicide
jackets and a large amount of explosives from them at Mianwali
in northwest Punjab.
Policemen initially nabbed a suspect from Gulberg Chowk
and recovered documents and videos of suicide bombings from
him. Acting on information provided by the suspect, three of
his accomplices were arrested later.
Explosive materials, ball bearings, suicide jackets, CDs,
cell phones and maps were seized from them, police said.
Officials said the four men were apparently planning to
carry out terror attacks during the month of Muharram. The
period has been marked by tensions between Sunnis and Shias in
past years.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, December 24, 2009, 20:30