Pakistan arrests 198 terrorists in Punjab combing operation

Islamabad, Aug 21 (IANS) Pakistani security forces have arrested at least 198 terrorists, including of Al Qaeda and Pakistani Taliban, in a combing operation in Punjab province from December 2014 to August 2016, police said.

According to police records, those arrested belong to various banned organisations from different cities across Punjab.

At least nine Al Qaeda terrorists were arrested, of whom five were caught in Lahore and four in Dera Ghazi Khan. Thirteen of the arrested terrorists belonged to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan while 176 caught were from the anti-Shia Lashkar-e-Jahngvi group, the most from any organisation, of whom 94 were arrested in Bahawalpur.

No terrorist from the Islamic State militant group (Daesh) was arrested in Punjab, police said, according to Pakistan Today on Sunday.

The combing operations will be conducted till the terrorists are arrested and their hideouts eliminated, The Inter-Services Public Relations said earlier this month.

Following the deadly attack at Quetta's Civil Hospital, Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif had ordered special combing operations, authorising intelligence agencies to go anywhere in the country and target those linked with the terror acts.

The Quetta suicide bombing claimed at least 93 lives and left over 100 injured.