QUETTA: A clearance operation that began when militants stormed an FC compound in Muslim Bagh town early on Friday morning completed on Saturday with all the six attackers eliminated and hostage families rescued.

The gunfight in Qila Saifullah district left six soldiers and a citizen martyred while another six people, including a woman, were injured (partly reported on Saturday).

Arms and ammunitions, used by the militants belonging to a new outfit ‘Tehreek Jihad Pakis­tan’ in the attack, were seized.

During the hours-long shootout, the attackers slipped into the residential block and took some families of government employees and civilians hostage.

Hostage families rescued; all attackers belonging to ‘Tehreek Jihad Pakistan’ killed

Military’s media affairs wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), while confirming the incident, in a statement said that the complex clearance operation involved a rescue operation as well to save three families from a residential block.

“The terrorists had not even spared children of their horrendous approach,” the ISPR said, adding that all six terrorists in the compound, who were well equipped, had been “sent to hell”.

Necessary intelligence follow-up will continue to trace their linkages and arrest facilitators and expose their sponsors, it added.

Security forces, in step with the nation, remain determined to thwart all attempts at sabotaging peace, stability and progress of Balochistan, the ISPR said.

Corps Commander, others attend funeral

Funeral prayers for Naik Amin Ullah, 31, a resident of Kalat; Lance Naik Abdul Manaf, 35, a resident of Chakwal; and steno-typist Ghulam Fareed, 34, a resident of Sahiwal, who embraced shahadat while fighting gallantly against terrorists at the FC camp, were offered at Quetta Garrison.

Corps Commander Quetta and other serving and retired officers and soldiers and civilian officials attended the funeral prayers.

Last rites of other martyrs will be offered at their respective hometowns with full military honours.

Armed forces of Pakistan stand resolute against nefarious designs of the enemies of Pakistan, who are hell-bent on spoiling the hard-earned peace. These sacrifices will not go in vain and rather strengthen the army’s resolve to continue the fight against terrorism till its conclusion, the ISPR said.

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2023