State writ to be established at all cost: PM

ISPR says PM Shehbaz visited CMH Rawalpindi, paid tribute to troops who cleared CTD complex

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said that the government would establish writ of the state at any cost and no one would be allowed to derail the hard-earned gains of war on terrorism.

“Writ of the state will be established at all cost and no one will be allowed to derail the hard-earned gains of war on terror achieved through unparalleled sacrifices of the nation and valiant armed forces,” the prime minister said while talking to the officers and soldiers at CMH Rawalpindi who got injured during CTD complex Bannu Operation.

The Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR) in a statement said the premier paid tributes to the courage and valour of troops who cleared the Bannu Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) compound.

PM Shehbaz said that the martyrs and their families rendered supreme sacrifices for ensuring the safety and security of the people of Pakistan, the statement added.

“We are determined to fight out terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and breaking the nexus between terrorists, their supporters and sympathisers till achieving peaceful and stable environment,” the ISPR quoted the premier as saying.

“The writ of the state will be established at all costs and no one will be allowed to derail the hard-earned gains of war on terror achieved through unparalleled sacrifices of the nation as well as the valiant armed forces,” it added.

The security forces on Wednesday regained full control of the CTD compound in Bannu which was under siege since Sunday, rescuing all the hostages in the facility as well as killing and capturing the terrorists holding them, officials in the town said.

The Special Service Group of the army launched an operation against the militants on Tuesday after talks for their peaceful surrender and ending the siege failed.

The operation continued overnight and on Wednesday, the security forces cleared the centre of all the terrorists.

During the two-day clearance operation, three troops were martyred, while 27 officers and soldiers sustained injuries.

Officials said that most of the terrorists were killed, while 11 either surrendered or were captured by the troops and shifted to a secure location.