Punjab grants CTD full law enforcement powers in tribal belt

LAHORE: The Punjab government has extended the Counter Terrorism Department’s (CTD) jurisdiction to the Koh-e-Sulaiman and Rajanpur tribal areas, empowering it to take direct charge of law and order in these regions.

Punjab Home Department sources said the CTD will now lead counterterrorism operations and handle major crimes in territories previously under the control of the Border Military Police and Levies. The department has been granted full legal powers to register cases, conduct investigations, and make arrests.

The move, approved by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and ratified by the provincial cabinet in its latest meeting, will impose no additional financial burden on the provincial budget.

Officials said the move will pave the way for intelligence-based operations in tribal tehsils, improving the province’s capacity to respond to security threats. The Punjab cabinet is expected to receive a detailed briefing on the development in its next meeting.