13 terrorists killed during clearance operation in Naushki, Panjgur: ISPR

Security forces killed 13 terrorists in Balochistan’s Panjgur and Naushki areas after successfully repulsing separate attacks last night, the military’s media wing said on Thursday.

In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that after fending off the attacks, “security forces carried out a clearance operation to hunt down terrorists hiding in the area.”

In Naushki, the security forces encountered and killed five more terrorists, bring the number of total killings to nine, the ISPR said, adding that four soldiers, including an officer, embraced martyrdom while repulsing the attack.

Meanwhile, in Panjgur, four terrorists have so far been killed while at least four to five are encircled by security forces, the statement said.

“As per initial investigation, intelligence agencies have intercepted communications between terrorists and their handlers in Afghanistan and India,” the statement added.

PM Imran pays tribute to brave security forces

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday paid tribute to the “brave” security forces for repulsing terrorist attacks in Balochistan the previous night as he acknowledged their “great sacrifices”.

Terrorists had attempted to attack security forces’ camps in Balochistan’s Panjgur and Naushki in two separate attacks late on Wednesday evening, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The attacks had been “successfully repulsed” while dealing heavy damage to the terrorists, although one soldier was martyred in the Panjgur incident, the military’s media wing had reported.

The prime minister today said: “We salute our brave security forces who repulsed terrorist attacks against security forces’ camps in Panjgur & Naushki, Balochistan. The nation stands united behind our security forces who continue to give great sacrifices to protect us.”

 

Peshawar High court orders Shuhada Package for family of Christian policeman

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Wednesday ordered the provincial government to pay compensation fixed for the police personnel to legal heirs of a Christian policeman, who had died in twin suicide blasts at a church in 2013.

A bench consisting of Justice Lal Jan Khattak and Justice Musarrat Hilali accepted a petition filed by Christiana Imtiaz, wife of martyred policeman Imtiaz Riad, to seek Shuhada Package (compensation), which is normally given away to the policeman killed in the line of duty.

The policeman was killed along with around 100 other members of the Christian community when two suicide bombers blew themselves up inside the All Saints Church in Kohati area on Sept 22, 2013.

The petitioner’s counsel, Zarak Arif Shah, said that Imtiaz Riaz was appointed a special police officer to the police department in 2010 and that he was present at the All Saints Church during the 2013 suicide bombings.

He said that his client had approached the provincial government seeking Shuhada Package fixed for policemen, however, he said that despite his client’s continuous efforts, the government was reluctant to pay the due compensation to her.