PM pays tribute to soldier martyred in Zhob operation

The brave sons of the nation are foiling nefarious designs of the terrorists, says Premier Shehbaz

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday paid tribute to sepoy Haq Nawaz who was martyred during the security forces’ operation against terrorists in Balochistan’s Zhob district.

In a statement, the prime minister lauded the security forces for their effective operation against the terrorists.

“The brave sons of the nation are foiling nefarious designs of the terrorists. The nation salutes its martyrs,” he remarked.

The PM expressed sympathy with the family of martyred soldier.

He prayed for higher ranks of the martyr in Jannah (paradise) and for early recovery of the injured soldiers.

A Pakistan Army soldier was martyred and two others were injured on early Sunday during an exchange of fire with terrorists in Balochistan’s Zhob, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

Also read: Soldier martyred in exchange of fire with terrorists in Zhob

According to the military’s media wing, "based on credible intelligence, an operation was launched in Sambaza area of Zhob, to stop terrorists from using few suspected routes to move across the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and to sneak into Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), along the interprovincial boundary and target citizens and security forces."

As a result of continuous surveillance and sanitisation of the area, a group of terrorists was intercepted in the early hours today, the ISPR added.

The press statement added that during "the establishment of blocking positions to deny them escape routes, terrorists opened fire onto the security forces".

The heavy exchange of fire between the security forces and the militants resulted in the killing of one terrorist, while Sepoy Haq Nawaz embraced martyrdom.

"The terrorists were supported by their facilitators from across the border as well during the exchange of fire," the ISPR added.

The military’s media wing said the sanitisation operation continues in the area to apprehend the remaining perpetrators.