The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) has conceded that terrorist organisations are present in the riverine Kacha area and evidence of their contacts with anit0national and foreign elements has been found.
The department presented a report in a meeting presided over by Caretaker Chief Minister on Monday to review an anti-terrorism operation in the Kacha area.
The participants of the meeting were informed that the Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan police would conduct a joint operation against terrorists in the area for the first time.
More than 11,000 Punjab police personnel will take part in the extensive operation.
It was decided that permanent infrastructure would be put in place after eliminating terrorist hideouts to ensure the writ of the state.
The caretaker CM asserted that the facilitators of terrorists challenging the government's writ in the area would also be brought to the book.
He directed the health secretaries to immediately send a mobile hospital and four-wheel drive ambulances to the Kacha area.
The participants of the meeting were told that a plan had been chalked out to construct bridges, roads and checkpoints in the area.
They thanked the Pakistan Army for the provision of modern weapons and technology for the operation.
The caretaker CM congratulated the Rahim Yar Khan district police officer and investigation team for the safe recovery of two kidnapped children from Khanpur.
The chief secretary, inspector general of police, additional chief secretary (home), Intelligence Bureau joint director general, health secretaries and senior officials of law enforcement agencies attended the meeting. The Addl IG of South Punjab and commissioners and regional police officers of Dera Ghazi Khan and Bahawalpur participated through video link.
Earlier, the caretaker chief minister telephoned IG Dr Usman Anwar and enquired after the wellbeing of the personnel injured in firing by criminal elements during the police operation.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 11th, 2023.
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