Pakistan

Pakistan launches much-awaited operation in South Punjab

Operation being conducted by civil, military law enforcement agencies against 'hardened criminals &...

Kamran Yousaf April 06, 2016

operation is being carried out by leas including rangers and police against 039 hardened criminal and ferraris says ispr photo afp

Operation is being carried out by LEAs including Rangers and police against 'hardened criminal and ferraris, says ISPR. PHOTO: AFP

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Army launched on Wednesday the much-awaited targeted operation against militant outfits in Southern Punjab, days after the deadliest attack in Lahore’s Gulshan-e-Iqbal park.

The military’s media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has confirmed the launch of coordinated operation in South Punjab.

At least 72 people were killed and more than 233 injured when a suicide bomb ripped through the parking space of a crowded park in Lahore where Christians were celebrating Easter on March 27, 2016.

Army chief orders counter-terror operations in Punjab

The operation is being carried out by civil and military law enforcement agencies, including Rangers, police and Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) against 'hardened criminal and ferraris’, it has been learnt.

"These terrorists flee from different parts of the country as a result of successful operations Zarb-e-Azb and took refuge in remote areas of Rohjan, Kache in district Rahim Yaar Khan,” an ISPR statement said.

The confirmation of coordinated operation by civil and military authorities suggested that standoff between the government and army on how to pursue operation in Punjab is now over.

Army chief, PM meet to discuss Punjab operation

The deadlock appears to be ended after a recent flurry of high-level exchanges between the civil and military leadership.

Earlier this week, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan met COAS General Raheel Sharif to discuss the Punjab operation.

COMMENTS (10)

Clockboy Ahmed | 8 years ago | Reply So all other regions are now crime free? Much awaited - why were we waiting?

Zahid | 8 years ago | Reply Excellent job Pakistan Army Zindabad General Raheel Sharif Zindabad

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Ch. Allah Daad | 8 years ago | Reply Are Terrorists so stupid that they didn't know about this so called operation? If they can cross hundreds of check posts between FATA and South Punjab, they can easily go to other places.

Aamir - Toronto | 8 years ago | Reply Well done !!!!! Pak army should initiate search operation of Rana Sanaullah's properties too !!!

Parvez | 8 years ago | Reply ....after giving sufficient time for the real bad guys to shift to safer areas.

Nida Ali | 8 years ago | Reply Criminals will not flee to other parts of the country. Forces in Karachi and rest of Sindh, KPK and Baluchistan should be on high alert and tighten the noose around these criminals.

curious2 | 8 years ago | Reply Lets hope Pakistan journalist pay more attention to this offensive than the two year long conflict in N Waziristan.

Sabir Hameed | 8 years ago | Reply All criminals will flee to Karachi and other cities of Sindh and Baluchistan. Then they will attack on Army's installations. They will wait till army goes back to barracks. LeJ has list power to take over Pakistan. But still they can do a lot as long as they have support from KSA & UAE.

Guldar Ali Khan Wazir | 8 years ago | Reply What is responsibility of civil administration if every thing is done by Pak army? The civil armed forces (Rangers) and Punjab police be assigned the task to identify sanctuaries of militants and take action accordingly. We need to think about our our national interests instead of siding with those who are bent upon damaging the existential structure of this blessed country. No doubt, our country is grappled with myriad challenges and some non state actors are trying to destabilise it by any way they can. But if we foster unity and cohesiveness we can deal with these challenges most effectively. .

hamza khan | 8 years ago | Reply excellent...should have started a while ago, need to do one in central punjab as well. all aiders and abbettors need to be taken down. no invincibility for punjab.

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