Security forces arrest 200 from Punjab following Lahore Blasts

LAHORE: Over 200 people were arrested by security forces in Punjab as they sped up search operations at various cities following a bomb blast in a park at Lahore on Sunday which killed 73 people and injured 300.

In a late night operation on Monday counter-terrorism department and intelligence agencies arrested 120 people from Gujranwala, 20 from Faisalabad, and 34 people from Sadiqabad, Khanpur and Liaquatpur.

Interrogation from the suspects is underway.

A paramilitary crackdown has been launched in Punjab after the deadly Lahore bombing.

According to well-informed sources, the military crackdown has been launched against banned terrorist outfits across Punjab, the country's most populous province.

Sources confirmed that the anti-terror crackdown has been launched on the orders of the Army chief and will commence with operations in southern Punjab, long believed to be a hotbed of religious extremism and militancy.

The sources added that troops from the Army and Rangers will take part in the crackdown, and that the military’s Corps Commander in Lahore will be regularly apprised of the progress of the operation.

On Sunday, Gen Raheel Sharif directed concerned commanders and intelligence agencies to kick off the operation in Punjab to bring the perpetrators of the deadly Lahore suicide attack to justice.

A military statement said the decision was taken at a high-level military meeting headed by the Army chief, and also attended by DG Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and DG Military Intelligence (MI).