File Photo. A. Majeed—AFP
Officials claim suspects were planning to target Kot Lakhpat jail, which houses five terrorists on death row.
Officials of Pakistan’s intelligence agencies on Thursday claimed they had arrested three terrorists, including two women, while they were allegedly planning attacks on high security targets, including the Central Jail in Kot Lakhpat, Lahore.
“Acting on reports that some terrorists were planning to raid valuable targets, we conducted a raid in Fareed Colony near Kot Lakhpat and arrested three suspected terrorists, including two women, from the house,” said the officials, speaking on condition of anonymity as they are not permitted to speak to media.
The officials said they had recovered rocket launchers, guns and explosives from the house, adding the alleged criminals also had maps of various jails across Punjab and uniforms of Punjab police.
“These [maps and uniforms] prove they were planning to attempt a jailbreak to free their colleagues,” the officials claimed.
There are currently 63 convicted terrorists on death row at Kot Lakhpat Jail, five of whom were sentenced to death by military-backed courts. “Omar Nadeem, Amir Yousaf, Asif Idrees, Ehsan Azeem and Kamran Aslam are the hardcore terrorists awaiting execution at the prison,” said a jail official on condition of anonymity.
Pakistan has ramped up its security following a Taliban attack on an Army-run school in Peshawa that left 150 people dead, including 134 students. On Thursday night, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced a “national action plan” that includes the formation of military-backed courts for two years to try terror suspects and a clampdown on “media glorification” of terrorism.