PM Shehbaz pays homage to ISI martyrs

Premier appreciates martyrs' efforts to crush the 'nefarious intentions' of hostile elements

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday paid homage to martyred Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) official Muhammad Naveed Sadiq and inspector Nasir Abbas.

Taking to his official Twitter handle, the premier said that he had visited Sadiq's family and paid tribute to the martyr on behalf of the entire nation. 

"It is thanks to the martyrs of the country, such as Naveed Sadiq and Nasir Abbas, that the nefarious intentions of elements hostile to Pakistan are crushed," he wrote.

Shehbaz added that the nation would always be grateful to its martyrs and their families.

کل ISI آفیسر نوید صادق شہید کے اہل خانہ کو اپنے اور قوم کی طرف سے خراج عقیدت پیش کرنے کے لئے حاضر ہوا۔یقیناًیہ نوید صادق اور ناصر عباس شہید جیسے وطن کے جاں نثاروں کی بدولت ہےکہ پاکستان دشمن عناصر کے مذموم عزائم خاک میں ملے۔قوم ہمیشہ اپنے شہداءاوران کے اہل خانہ کی شکر گزار رہے گی

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) January 7, 2023

Earlier this week, Muhammad Naveed Sadiq, a director at the ISI and Inspector Nasir Abbas were martyred in a gun attack by a terrorist identified as Umar Khan at Bismillah Restaurant on the National Highway in Pirowal, Khanewal.

A relatively unknown terrorist group, Lashkar-e-Khorasan, claimed responsibility for the attack. However, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) cast doubts on the claim as its spokesperson Muhammad Khorasni said a “secret squad” of the TTP was behind the attack.

Read CTD arrests five terrorists in Punjab

Both the claims appear to be doubtful as the suspected attacker, who earlier had tea with the two officials at the restaurant, was an “intelligence source” on Al-Qaeda terrorist group. It is suspected that he might have been a double agent.

Naveed Sadiq Shaheed, who was the officer commanding the ISI’s counter-terrorism department for Multan Region, had served the premier intelligence agency for more than 16 years.

Sadiq was decorated with Sitara-e-Shujaat, Pakistan’s second-highest civil award. According to sources, he conducted multiple operations against Da’ish and Al-Qaeda across Punjab and was "a terrorists’ nightmare”, singlehandedly defeating Da’ish.

Inspector Nasir Abbas Shaheed also served the ISI for about 16 years.

“During his posting in Multan, he was the linchpin of operations against Da’ish, Al-Qaeda, and other terrorist outfits in South Punjab,” said sources.