Averting possible terror: PEN demands recognition for SHO Mathra, his team

Police arrested suspected terrorists ahead of APS attack’s first anniversary

PESHAWAR: Private Education Network (PEN) has demanded Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government award Mathra SHO and his team for averting a terror attack possibly meant for December 16.

“Mathra SHO Muhammad Sher Khan saved many people from a terror attack by arresting wanted terrorists within the limits of Mathra police station on December 15,” said Fazalullah, one of the vice chancellors of PEN, during a joint news conference with Islami Nizamat-e-Taleem Pakistan leaders at Peshawar Press Club on Saturday. “The SHO also seized a rocket launcher; two mortar shells; two bombs of 20 kilogrammes each; pistols; and dozens of bullets from the terrorists’ possession.”

Fazalullah appreciated the work of Mathra SHO and his team and demanded Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and IGP Nasir Khan Durrani acknowledge the efforts of the SHO and his team, and award them. PEN is a network of private educational and vocational institutions which primarily offers advice, guidance, information and training on all aspects of school governance.

A day before the first anniversary of the Army Public School attack, the city police received a report about a cylinder blast in Mathra. Subsequently, police started investigating and arrested a cleric in the area during the process. The cleric, Kashif, informed the police of the presence of some terrorists in Panam Dheri area of Mathra. A team was constituted to arrests the remaining members of the gang.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 20^th, 2015.