Punjab to extend scope of CTD to Koh-e-Sulaiman

LAHORE: The Punjab Home Department has decided to extend the scope of Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) to 12,000 square kilometre tribal area of Koh-e-Sulaiman in south Punjab with the approval of Standing Committee on Law and Order of the cabinet.

The provincial cabinet in its meeting on March 7 had given powers to the standing committee for the approval.

The scope of CTD is now being extended along with the Punjab Border Military Police and Baloch Levies in the sensitive tri-border area to fight activities of terrorist organisations, Balochistan Liberation Army and Balochistan Republican Army besides dangerous criminals.

The standing committee will approve the inclusion of Koh-e-Sulaiman Region (Tri-Border Area) in CTD Region (DG Khan, Muzaffargarh, Layyah and Rajanpur districts). The Border Military Police and Baloch Levies are responsible for maintaining law and order in Koh-e-Sulaiman area with 300,000 population. These forces are working under the Punjab Border Military Police Act 1904. The people from local tribes are recruited for the Military Police which deals only with matters of civil and criminal nature. They lack the capability to fight terrorists and gangs armed with sophisticated weapons. The summary prepared by the Home Department stated the Punjab government has increased the capacity of CTD and entrusted it with a key role in the fight against terrorism to implement the National Action Plan.