LAHORE: The Punjab Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) announced on Saturday that it apprehended 26 suspected terrorists linked to banned organisations during intensive intelligence-based operations (IBOs) across Punjab over the past month. The CTD conducted 286 operations in cities including Lahore, Gujranwala, Sahiwal, and Faisalabad. Officials interrogated 286 suspects and arrested 26 terrorists with arms, explosives, and other illegal items. One militant connected to Al-Qaeda was caught in Lahore, while four Fitna al-Khawarij members, which refers to banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants, were detained in Sargodha. The suspects had connections to tribal areas. Authorities seized 4.9 kilograms of explosives, three IEDs, 19 detonators, 34 feet of fuse wire, banned organisation pamphlets, Prima cards, phones, and cash from the suspects. Officials warned the terrorists planned attacks on key buildings to spread public fear. The CTD registered 25 terrorism cases and launched investigations. Alongside IBOs, the CTD coordinated with police and security agencies to carry out 4,662 combing operations checking 160,009 people. This led to 538 arrests, 516 FIRs, and 389 recoveries. In the previous month, the CTD announced the arrest of 49 suspected terrorists and neutralized six dangerous militants in operations near Chapri Dam. The crackdown included an operative allegedly linked to India's RAW intelligence agency.