Captain, sepoy martyred, 8 terrorists killed in KP action

RAWALPINDI/ISLAMABAD/MIANWALI/LAKKI MARWAT/QUETTA: A young officer of Pakistan Army and a soldier were martyred while eight Khwarij were killed in two separate operations conducted in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province since November 29.

An Intelligence Based Operation (IBO) was conducted in general area Baka Khel, Bannu District, on reported presence of Khwarij. During the conduct of operation, troops effectively engaged the Khwarij location and killed five Khwarij, while nine Khwarij got injured.

However, during the operation, Sepoy Iftikhar Hussain (Age: 29 years, resident of District Jhang), having fought gallantly, embraced Shahadat.

In another operation conducted in general area Shagai, Khyber District, three Khwarij were sent to hell, while two were apprehended by the security forces. During an intense fire exchange, Captain Muhammad Zohaibuddin (Age: 25 years, resident of District Lahore), who was leading his troops from the front, fought bravely, paid the ultimate sacrifice and embraced Shahadat.

These Khwarij were involved in numerous terrorist activities against the security forces as well as innocent civilians, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Sunday said.

Sanitization operations are being conducted to eliminate any other Khwarij found in the area as security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve, the ISPR statement said.

Meanwhile, at least four terrorists of banned outfit have been killed and many others injured in gunbattle during a security forces operation in Sherani district, on Sunday.

Officials said that security forces have launched an operation in Mughal Kot area of Sherani district on information about the presence of armed militants.

As a result of heavy exchange of fire, four militants were killed and some others injured. “The bodies of militants who were killed in the operation were shifted to the nearby health facility,” officials said. The militants belong to a banned outfit organization and to Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, police teams repelled a fierce attack on a police station in Mianwali, a border district between Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), killing four terrorists after an intense exchange of fire on Sunday. “More than 20 terrorists armed with rocket launchers and hand grenades stormed the Chapri Police Station,” a police spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said that two terrorists were killed in retaliatory fire, while two police officers sustained injuries during the gunfight. After suffering heavy losses, the remaining terrorists fled the scene.

District Police Officer (DPO) Mianwali Akhtar Farooq and other senior officers were also present on the scene, according to the police spokesperson.

Meanwhile, a search and clearance operation is ongoing to apprehend the fleeing terrorists.

Punjab Police Inspector General Usman Anwar lauded the Mianwali police for thwarting the terrorist attack, vowing to counter all anti-peace designs.

Large police contingents cordoned off the area and launched a search operation, with reports of further gunbattles involving fleeing terrorists. The police later recovered two more bodies, bringing the total number of killed terrorists to four.

Meanwhile, a police official was martyred when militants attacked a police station in Darra Pezu area late Saturday night. Police identified the martyred cop as Kiramatullah and said that he fought bravely and embraced martyrdom in the exchange of fire which continued for one hour. They said that the cops responded bravely and forced the assailants to flee.

Funeral prayers for the deceased policeman were offered at the police lines attended by DPO Rahim Hussain and other government officials. Later, the martyred cop was laid to rest at a graveyard in Paharkhel area with state honours.

Meanwhile, the PM, corps commander Lahore, other senior civil and military officers and jawans and relatives of Shaheed officer attended the funeral prayers of Captain Zohaibuddin Shaheed and Sepoy Iftikhar Hussain. The prime minister also met family members of the Shaheed and prayed rich tribute to him for the great sacrifice.

Earlier, Namaz-e-Janaza of Captain Zohaibuddin Shaheed and Sepoy Iftikhar Hussain was offered in Peshawar and Bannu respectively. Corps Commander Peshawar Lt. General Omer Ahmed Bokhari and other military officers and jawans attended Namaz-e-Janaza.

Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Sunday praised the security forces for their successful operations in Bannu and Khyber districts. They commended their bravery for eliminating eight Khwarij (terrorists) and arresting eleven others injured in two separate operations.

The president, prime minister and Bilawal paid tributes to Shaheed Captain Muhammad Zohaibuddin and soldier Iftikhar Hussain, who were martyred during the operations, and acknowledged their sacrifices, the President Secretariat Press Wing and PM Office Media Wing, in separate press releases said.

President Zardari emphasized that the sacrifices of martyrs for the country’s security would not be in vain and that the entire nation would remember the sacrifices of those who laid down their lives for the motherland. He reiterated the commitment to continue operations till the eradication of terrorism and assured the nation that they would stand with their brave security forces in the fight against terrorism. The president also prayed for the elevation of martyrs’ souls and patience for their families. The prime minister prayed for the high ranks of the Shaheed personnel of Pakistan Army and a grant of patience for the bereaved families. The fight against terrorism would continue till the complete eradication of this menace from the country, the press release quoted the prime minister as saying. The officers and personnel of the Pakistan Army were protecting the country from its enemies without caring for their lives, he added. The prime minister said the entire nation, including him, was proud of the brave officers and soldiers of the Pakistan Army, adding the Pakistani nation could never forget the sacrifices of its martyrs. He said the nefarious designs of terrorists and enemies of the country to spread chaos in Pakistan would never succeed. The brave and courageous young men who sacrificed their future for this country and their families, filled with the spirit of sacrifice, were the pride of the entire Pakistani nation, he observed. The prime minister reiterated that the entire nation stood shoulder to shoulder with their armed forces in this fight against terrorism.

Meanwhile, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has lauded the security forces for eliminating eight terrorists in operations conducted in the districts of Bannu and Khyber in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. “The successful operation against terrorists is a source of pride for the nation,” he said in a statement on Sunday. Paying tribute to Captain Muhammad Zohaibuddin and Sepoy Iftikhar Hussain, who embraced martyrdom during the operation, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said, “The terrorists responsible for the martyrdom of these brave sons of the nation will face a dreadful end.” Bilawal offered prayers for the elevation of ranks of the martyred soldiers and expressed heartfelt condolences to their families, praying for their strength and patience in this time of grief.