8 terrorists killed in Pakistan's Punjab

Official said the militants were planning to attack a Shia procession near Multan district, about 350 km from Lahore

Eight al-Qaeda and Taliban terrorists, who were plotting to target atomic installations and offices of intelligence agencies, were killed by Pakistani security forces in the country's relatively peaceful Punjab province, officials said on Friday.

Punjab police's Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) said their officials were working on intelligence input that militants were planning to attack a Shia procession near Multan district, about 350 kilometres from Lahore.

CTD officials and other security agencies conducted combing operations in Shujaabad area of the district.

During these operations, the CTD team learnt that the militants belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and al-Qaeda had moved to Dera Ghazi Khan.

"Yesterday, when a CTD team raided the suspects' hideout in Dera Ghazi Khan the terrorists opened fire and hurled hand-grenades. The CTD team retaliated in self-defence. When the firing stopped, eight terrorists were found dead," it said.

Three militants managed to escape.

Official sources said the militants were planning to hit atomic installations and offices of intelligence agencies.

They said the terrorists had stored a "good amount of ammunition" including Kalashnikovs, hand-grenades and explosives at their hideout in Tonmi Road of DG Khan.