PM Shehbaz felicitates ISI on BNA chief's arrest

Premier says arrest will usher in new era of peace and suppress militancy in Balochistan

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) on Saturday on the arrest of the leader and founder of the banned Baloch National Army (BNA) Gulzar Imam.

Taking to his official Twitter handle, the premier offered “heartfelt felicitations to the ISI” for conducting the “brilliant operation” which led to Imam’s arrest.

Heartfelt felicitations to ISI for carrying out a brilliant operation that resulted in the arrest of BNA's founder. This operation speaks of outstanding professionalism of our institutions. The arrest will help suppress militancy in Balochistan & usher in a new era of peace.

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) April 8, 2023

“This operation speaks of outstanding professionalism of our institutions,” he stated.

The prime minister furthered that the arrest would help suppress militancy in Balochistan and “usher in a new era of peace”.

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BNA leader Gulzar Imam alias Shambay, was arrested in a high-profile intelligence-based operation by the security forces, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) revealed in a statement issued a day earlier.

The "high-value target" had been a "hardcore militant as well as founder and leader of the banned outfit Baloch National Army (BNA) which came into being after the amalgamation of Baloch Republican Army (BRA) and United Baloch Army (UBA)", read the statement.

The military's media wing elaborated that the BNA has been responsible for dozens of violent terrorist attacks in Pakistan, including attacks on law enforcement agencies (LEAs) installations in Panjgur and Noshki.

Gulzar also remained as "deputy to Brahamdagh Bugti in Baloch Republican Army (BRA) till 2018 and was instrumental in the formation of Baloch Raji Aajoi Sangar (BRAS) and remained its operational head", the ISPR further maintained.