LAHORE:

In a major breakthrough, the Punjab Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) announced on Saturday that they have successfully neutralized a highly wanted terrorist responsible for at least 50 murders and an attack on the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) agency’s office in Faisalabad.

The terrorist, identified as Ghazanfar Nadeem, was killed alongside an unidentified accomplice during an intelligence-based operation carried out in Chiniot, according to the CTD. The operation was a result of extensive intelligence gathering and planning. The identity of the accomplice is yet to be determined.

According to CTD officials, Nadeem and his associate opened fire on the police, leading to a retaliatory firefight in which both individuals were shot and killed. This successful operation has dealt a significant blow to the extremist network operating in the region.

The security officials have been relentlessly pursuing Nadeem since 2011, and he had a substantial bounty of Rs2.5 million on his head. Nadeem was a key figure involved in orchestrating sectarian attacks and was linked to multiple major incidents.

Among his notorious activities, Nadeem was directly involved in the attack on the ISI office in Faisalabad and a suicide attack in Dera Ismal Khan. He was also associated with several target killings that created fear and unrest in the region.

During the operation, the CTD team discovered a cache of explosives and other weapons from the terrorist hideout, further highlighting the dangerous nature of Nadeem’s activities and the potential threats he posed to innocent lives.

The spokesperson for the CTD revealed that Nadeem operated under various aliases and was also known as Khalid Habib. This indicates his ability to operate covertly and evade law enforcement agencies for an extended period.

This successful operation comes on the heels of another significant achievement by the CTD. On September 13, they successfully eliminated a key militant commander of the outlawed Dai’sh during an operation in Balochistan’s Mastung district. The commander, identified as Ghulam Mohyuddin Shahwani alias Shoaib, was responsible for several high-profile attacks, including targeting prominent political figures.

The CTD spokesperson emphasized that the operation leading to the elimination of the militant commander was conducted based on credible intelligence received by the department. This showcases the effectiveness of intelligence-driven operations in dismantling terrorist networks and maintaining public safety.