- KP police thwart miscreants’ attacks on Fatehkhel chowki in Bannu and Takia post in Bara
LAHORE/BANNU: Three terrorists were killed, and six others managed to escape during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) conducted by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) near Mianwali’s Rehmanikhel area, according to a CTD statement on Friday.
The CTD in a statement said that an IBO was conducted following the reports of terrorists’ presence in the area.
However, the terrorists opened fire on the police as soon as they took sight of them.
In an exchange of fire, the terrorist killed three of their own while the remaining six escaped.
The police found rifles, three hand grenades, bullets, and explosives near the slain terrorists.
A search operation was underway to arrest the terrorists who had escaped, the statement said, adding that the teams had set up a blockade near Rehmanikhel.
The process of identifying the slain terrorists was underway, the statement continued.
It added that the terrorists who were targeted had completed their planning for carrying out major attacks on police posts.
Separately, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police, in a statement, said that unidentified miscreants carried out “unsuccessful attacks” on Fatehkhel chowki in Bannu district and Takia post in Bara tehsil of Khyber district, adding that both attacks were repelled by the police’s immediate response.
A young man was injured in an exchange of fire in Bannu, the statement said.
KP Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed said police foiled the attacks with professionalism and courage, adding that the evil elements in society will be brought to their end.
“The soldiers showed great devotion to duty by remaining alert,” IG Hameed said, adding that the morale of the youth was high and they were determined to continue the struggle until terrorism was eradicated.
The IG paid tribute to the bravery of KP police and announced cash rewards and certificates of appreciation.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi paid tribute to the forces for foiling the attack on a police post in Bannu and the killing of three terrorists in Mianwali.
In a statement, he said that the Bannu police personnel bravely confronted the terrorists and foiled the attack.
He congratulated KP Police personnel for foiling the nefarious intentions of the terrorists, emphasising that the KP police were fighting the war against terrorism with courage.
The country “is proud of the brave sons of the KP police”, Naqvi said.
Speaking about the Mianwali incident, Naqvi said that CTD personnel bravely fought the terrorists.
Naqvi said he was proud of the CTD’s professional skills, adding that the team deserved praise for bringing down the terrorists.
Pakistan has witnessed an uptick in terror activities over the past year, especially in KP and Balochistan, after the proscribed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022, vowing to target security forces, police, and law enforcement agencies personnel.
CM Maryam Nawaz Lauds CTD Over Killing 3 Terrorists in Mianwali
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz lauded the Counter-Terrorism Department over success of operation against terrorists in Mianwali. She paid tribute to the CTD team and congratulated them for consigning to hell three terrorists. She reaffirmed the Punjab government’s resolve to “stamp out terrorism” saying this dream would be materialized with the “unwavering and unflinching” support of the nation.”
Pakistan has been grappling with an alarming surge in terror attacks, especially in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa after the outlawed Pakistan Tehreek-eTabliban ended a ceasefire with the government in 2022.
On Wednesday, terrorists of “Fitna al-Hindustan,” referring to the government-designated term for all terror outfits in Balochistan, targeted a school bus in Khuzdar that martyred at least six people, including three students, while over 40 others — mostly students — sustained injuries.
The traffic incident took place near Zero Point in Khuzdar on the Quetta-Karachi highway when the bus was on its way to drop the students at the Army Public School in Khuzdar Cantonment.
