IG lauds CTD role in fight against terror

LAHORE:Inspector General Police Punjab Aamir Zulfiqar Khan has said that the role of Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) is of fundamental importance and plausible in eliminating terrorism, sectarianism and extremism from the province.

IG Punjab praised the performance of CTD and directed to accelerate intelligence-based operations. He said that in view of the incidents of terrorism, the CTD should perform its duties more diligently across the province and punish the terrorists as well as their facilitators.

Aamir Zulfiqar expressed these views while presiding over a meeting on the occasion of a visit to the CTD headquarters and addressing the officials at the Police Darbar on Thursday. IG Punjab also reviewed the operations and activities of CTD.

During the meeting, Additional IG Imran Mehmood gave a briefing about the performance of CTD and the operations which were carried out this year. Aamir Zulfiqar stressed upon that the file will not be closed in any case without completing the investigation of every incident of terrorism and bringing the criminals to the logical conclusion. He said that lives of CTD corporals are very precious to me, therefore, all devised security SOPs must be followed during operations. IG Punjab said that the pursuit of extremists and their facilitators should be continued till the end of terrorism and sectarianism. He directed that special care should be taken to protect the self-esteem of citizens because our war is against crime and not against individuals. IG Punjab expressed that according to me, corruption is not only in terms of money grabbing but irresponsible performance of duties is also a serious form of corruption in which the culprits do not deserve any sympathy. During the briefing, IG Punjab was told that 12,429 intelligence-based operations were conducted this year while 1,642 FIRs were registered and 2,251 people were arrested. 64.36 kg explosives, 48 hand grenades, 253 detonators, 07 batteries and firearms and bullets were seized from accused. Likewise, the accused of Johar Town blast were sentenced and the accused of Anarkali blast were arrested while 74,230 websites and pages involved in illegal activities were blocked.