Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, State Minister for Interior Tala Chaudhry and other officials offer funeral prayers at the FC Headquarters in Peshawar for the FC personnel martyred while confronting terrorists on the city’s outskirts. Photo: Express
PESHAWAR/RAWALPINDI/HANGU:
Six personnel of the Federal Constabulary (FC) embraced martyrdom while bravely confronting terrorists belonging to outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) during an operation in the Hassan Khel area on the outskirts of Peshawar.
Separately, security forces killed 14 terrorists linked to a separatist terrorist organisation during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in western Balochistan, the military’s media wing said on Tuesday.
The martyred FC personnel were identified as Naik Amir, Lance Naik Muhammad Yousaf, Lance Naik Muhammad Riaz, Sepoy Ajmeer, Sepoy Ehsan and Sepoy Riaz. Their funeral prayers were offered with full official honours at the Federal Constabulary Headquarters in Peshawar.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, Frontier Corps North inspector general, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Police inspector general, Federal Constabulary inspector general, and National Police Academy commandant were among those who attended the ceremony.
Speaking on the occasion, Naqvi paid tribute to the martyrs and said their sacrifices would never go in vain. “The brave sons of the nation who laid down their lives in the war against terrorism are our real heroes and will always be remembered,” he said.
The minister met the bereaved families, offered condolences and assured them that the entire nation stood with them in their grief. He said the families of the martyrs would not be left alone and described their sacrifices in defence of the homeland as a beacon of inspiration for generations.
Talal Chaudhry said the nation remained united against terrorism and vowed that operations against enemies of peace would be further strengthened until terrorism was completely eradicated.
Following the funeral prayers, the FC inspector general briefed the interior minister on the Hassan Khel incident and subsequent operations against the terrorists. The bodies of the martyrs were later dispatched to their native towns and villages, where they will be laid to rest with full state honours.
President Asif Ali Zardari expressed profound grief over the martyrdom of the six FC personnel. Paying tribute to the fallen personnel, the president said those who sacrificed their lives for the country’s peace were national heroes.
“The sacrifices rendered by security forces further strengthen the national resolve for the complete elimination of terrorism,” he said, while praying for the elevation of the martyrs’ ranks and for patience and strength for their families.
Balochistan IBO
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), intelligence reports received on June 8 indicated the presence of terrorists belonging to Fitna al-Hindustan in the Naal area of Basima tehsil of district Washuk in Balochistan.
The terrorists were reportedly planning attacks on a nearby police station and banks in the area. Acting swiftly, the forces launched an intelligence-based operation to foil the planned attacks. During the operation, the movement of terrorists was effectively intercepted and engaged by the troops.
The ISPR said that after an intense exchange of fire, 14 Indian-sponsored terrorists were killed, while several others sustained injuries. Security forces also destroyed four vehicles being used by the terrorists and recovered and destroyed improvised explosive devices (IEDs) at the site.
During the fierce firefight, Lance Havildar Muhammad Abbas also embraced martyrdom after fighting bravely against the terrorists.
The military said sanitisation operations were continuing in the area. It reiterated that the counterterrorism campaign under the vision of “Azm-e-Istehkam” would continue with full force to eradicate foreign-sponsored terrorism from the country.
President Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif lauded the security forces for conducting the successful IBO against terrorists of the Indian proxy Fitna alHindustan in Naal area of Basima district, Balochistan.
The president said that the timely and effective operation, which thwarted the nefarious designs of the terrorists, reflected the professionalism of the state institutions and the nation’s unwavering resolve against terrorism.
Appreciating the bravery and sacrifices of the security forces, Zardari commended them for eliminating 14 Indian-backed terrorists, President Secretariat Media Wing said in a statement.
The president said that continued operations against anti-state elements were essential for safeguarding national security and ensuring peace and stability in the country.
He also expressed deep sorrow over the martyrdom of Lance Havildar Muhammad Abbass, saying that the sacrifices rendered by the brave sons of the soil for the defence of the homeland would never go in vain.
The prime minister while lauding the security forces for eliminating 14 terrorists during the operation, also paid tribute to Lance Havildar Muhammad Abbass of the Pakistan Army, who embraced martyrdom while confronting the terrorists bravely.
He prayed for the elevation of the martyr’s ranks and extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, PM Office Media Wing said in a statement.
