Authorities have detained more than 5,000 suspected militants since the Lahore blast, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah has confirmed. Investigators have released most of the suspects but 216 suspects have been for further investigation.
Rana Sanullah confirmed that a military operation has formally been initiated all over Punjab, saying that there won’t be any ‘no-go area’ in the province.
While addressing the press with IG Punjab, the minister said that CTD has conducted 16 operations since the Lahore blast. “Where army’s support is needed, we are getting it,” he said. “The police department, Rangers and army are working in tandem.”
About monitoring of madrassas - religious schools in Pakistan - he said there are 15,000 madrassas in Punjab which are under constant observation. “Geo-tagging technology is being used to monitor the maddrassas,” he said.
“5,221 people have been detained since the blast, while 216 individuals have been held for the further interrogation,” Ranaullah said, adding that around 20,000 individuals are on the watch-list, with 1,500 being in fourth schedule.
The minister further stated that the operation will also target areas of Kacha. “The operation is the operation of the entire nation,” Sanaullah said. “The operations are being conducted after as intelligence is received.”
The law minister said 88 ‘jet black’ extremist militants were killed last year, with 24 eliminated so far this year. “Terrorism will be rooted out soon,” Sanaullah exclaimed.
While discussing the operation he further said sleeper cells of militants have been raided and finished. “The war against terrorism will be continued till the eradication of the last terrorist.”
