Two Levies soldiers martyred in Mastung attack
Armed men opened fire on Tuesday morning in the Babari area of Mastung district in Balochistan, killing two levies personnel, according to levies sources.
The attackers managed to escape unhurt from the scene of the incident, leaving the two levies personnel dead. Police and levies personnel arrived at the scene as an investigation into the incident was launched.
The deceased have been identified as Manzoor Ahmed and Muhammad Aslam. The dead bodies were shifted to the district headquarters hospital in Mastung.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet, and authorities have not speculated on the motives behind the attack.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the terrorist attack and praised the efforts of the security forces in defending the country and paid tribute to the sacrifices rendered by them. "The nation paid tribute to its security forces for defending the country," he said.
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In a statement released by the state news agency APP, the prime minister expressed his condolences to the families of the two Levies personnel who lost their lives in the attack. "He prayed for the departed souls and said the sacrifices rendered by security forces would not go in vain," the statement read.
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo also condemned the attack and expressed grief over the killing of the two Levies personnel. He pointed out that the recent incidents of terrorism are a cause for concern, and the enemy wants to spoil the peaceful environment of the province.
Bizenjo promised that all available resources would be used to bring the terrorists to justice. He called upon the authorities to be more vigilant in thwarting conspiracies of anti-national elements. "The law enforcement agencies should spare no effort in fulfiling their responsibilities. The people should also be united to foil the nefarious designs of miscreants," he added.
Balochistan has long been plagued by violence and insurgency. Separatist militants and extremists often target security personnel and government installations in the province. The government has launched several operations against militants in the area in recent years, but the violence continues to persist.