BANNU: Funeral prayers for six martyred security personnel were initially offered in the Bannu district and later in their respective hometowns.

According to a statement issued by the Inter Services Public Relation (ISPR) on Friday, funeral prayers for Havaldar Saleem Khan, a resident of District Tank; Naik Javed Iqbal, resident of District Kohat; Sepoy Nazir Khan, resident of District Bannu; Sepoy Hazrat Bilal, resident of District Mardan; Sepoy Syed Rajab Hussain, resident of District Orakzai; and Sepoy Bismillah Jan, resident of District Khyber, who embraced martyrdom on May 4, 2023 during an intense exchange of fire between security forces and terrorists in Dirduni area of district North Waziristan, were initially offered at Bannu and later in their respective native towns.

The martyred personnel were laid to rest with full military honours, with a large number of senior military officers, soldiers, civil officers, public and relatives of martyred personnel attended the funeral prayers.

“Security forces of Pakistan are determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve,” the statement said.

Published in Dawn, May 6th, 2023