5 Pak Taliban militants planning Muharram attack killed

An attack on the Shia procession here on the occasion of Muharram today was averted as five Pakistani Taliban militants were killed in a shootout with security personnel.
According to Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab Police, it received intelligence reports that some eight terrorists were present near river Ravi and planning to attack Shia processions in the city.
'Youm-e-Ashur' - when Shia Muslims commemorate the historical sacrifice of Imam Hussain at Karbala - was observed with traditional religious solemnity amid tight security to ward off terror fears as authorities have taken extra security measures.
Mobile phone services on and around the route of the main procession and other sensitive areas in Lahore remained suspended.

The CTD said in a statement security personnel and police reached the Sanda area in early hours and surrounded the terrorists who were hiding in a house.
The police commandos asked them to surrender but they opened fire on them. The police party returned the fire and during the firing five terrorists were killed and three of their accomplices managed to escape under cover of darkness, it said.

The CTD said the killed terrorists belonged to Tehreek- e-Taliban Pakistan. One of them has been identified as Zarar, a TTP leader from Bahawalpur district of Punjab.
Explosives and weapons have been recovered from the hideout of the terrorists.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Rangers has arrested 27 suspects in different parts of Punjab.
The raids were conducted in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Multan, D G Khan, Lahore, Sialkot, Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan.
During the operations, illegal weapons were also recovered, the statement said, adding the suspects were being interrogated.