Gen Raheel gives nod to launch Punjab operation

LAHORE: The Pakistan Army and paramilitary troops have been ordered to launch crackdown against terrorists, banned outfits and their facilitators in Punjab, a day after a suicide bomber killed over 70 people in Lahore, sources said on Monday.

The campaign against the militants has been launched on the orders of  Army Chief General Raheel Sharif who chaired two high level meetings since the deadly blast hit a park in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park in a densely populated area, the sources said.

The meetings were attended by top military leaders and heads of army’s secret agencies at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi.

Military spokesman Lt Gen Asim Bajwa said the army chief directed concerned intelligence agencies to commence operations as soon as possible to find linkages and perpetrators of Lahore suicide attack.

Asim Bajwa, the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), on Monday said a meeting chaired by the army chief was told that the security forces carried out five operations in Faisalabad, Lahore, and Multan.

He said a number of terrorists were arrested and huge caches of arms seized during raids jointly conducted by the security forces and intelligence agencies.

‘Operation has formally been launched in south Punjab by Rangers and police,” reported Geo News, adding that Lahore’s Corps Commander would be overseeing the drive against militants in province.

Quoting sources, the TV channel further said the authorities have been directed not to bow before any type of influence during the course of action against terrorists.