News Desk |
On Monday, a soldier of the Pakistan Army embraced martyrdom in exchange of fire with terrorists who had raided a check post in North Waziristan’s Shawal valley, stated a press release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations.
The statement read, “Terrorists raided Makki Garh Post, Shawal Valley, North Waziristan. Troops effectively repulsed attempt.” The press release issued by Pakistan Army’s media wing added, “In exchange of fire a soldier of Pak Army embraced Shahadat.”
The press release added that soldiers recovered five bullet-ridden bodies from a nullah in the Boya area of North Waziristan, approximately 1.5 kilometers away from the Khar Kamar check post, where clashes have broken out on Sunday after a group led by PTM leader MNA Ali Wazir and MNA Mohsin Dawar had attacked the soldiers, resulting in the death of three individuals and 15 injured, including five soldiers.
The people of Pakistan, especially our tribal brothers and the Pakistan Army, have created peace and security in the country after rendering numerous sacrifices.
The statement read, “On other hands, during patrolling in Boya area where yesterday an Army post was attacked by a group, five dead bodies with bullet wounds have been found from a nullah approximately 1.5 Kilometres away from Khar Kamar post. Identification of dead bodies in the process.”
Attack on Pak Army “Highly Condemnable”
Minister for Defence Pervez Khattak regretted PTM’s attack on the army check post in North Waziristan on Sunday, stating that the incident is “highly condemnable”. The Ministry of Defence issued a detailed statement, in which Minister Khattak narrated the entire incident of the attack.
Read more: PTM declares war on Pakistan Army: Check-post destroyed, five soldiers injured
Defence Minister Khattak said, “A group opened straight fire at the check post. At first, the soldiers tried to disperse them peacefully. Then, in retaliation to their firing, resorted to aerial firing to disperse them, but when five Jawans were injured due to their firing, the soldiers, in self-defense, opened fire at them, which resulted in some casualties.”
Minister Pervez Khattak lamented that this incident in North Waziristan should not have happened, and unfortunately, it was incited by two members of the National Assembly. He said, “Unfortunately, two of our assembly members were leading the group. The people of Pakistan, especially our tribal brothers and the Pakistan Army, have created peace and security in the country after rendering numerous sacrifices. During the operation in tribal areas, our tribal brothers have suffered a lot of hardships.”
PM Khan ordered CM Mahmood Khan and Governor KPK Farman to visit North Waziristan and defuse the ongoing tensions.
Khattak stated that the Army Chief and Prime Minister Imran Khan had stressed that the “state is our mother and we understand the problems being faced by the people, especially the ones in the tribal areas”.
Referring to the justified demands of the Waziristan tribal people, Khattak stated that no entity, group or individual will be allowed to make a mockery of laws and constitution, or use the miseries of the local people as a pretext to further their political ambitions. He stressed, “All of their [tribal people’s] reasonable demands are being met as per the law and the Constitution and the government will not rest until the social and economic restoration of the tribal areas is complete.”
North Waziristan Ripe with Tensions
On Monday, Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Shah Farman and KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan briefed Prime Minister Imran Khan about the Boyya check post attack in Islamabad. PM Khan ordered CM Mahmood Khan and Governor KPK Farman to visit North Waziristan and defuse the ongoing tensions.
Read more: PTM’s jig is up: Ali Wazir arrested
Upon their arrival at the Miranshah headquarters, CM Mahmood and Governor Farman were received by top security officials, who gave them a detailed briefing on the attack.
After their meeting with the security officials, Mahmood Khan and Shah Farman held a meeting with tribal leaders of North Waziristan and had a detailed discussion about the incident. They also prayed for those who had lost their lives in the condemnable incident. Afterward, they returned to Islamabad to brief Prime Minister Khan about their engagements in North Waziristan.
The delegation was topped at the Syedgai check post. Upon being refused entry clearance, the ANP delegation staged a protest in front of the check post.
Media reports from earlier revealed that Prime Minister Imran Khan had ordered KP CM and Governor to visit North Waziristan to defuse the tensions and set free MNA Ali Wazir, a senior leader of PTM and responsible for inciting Sunday’s attack on the army check post. MNA Ali Wazir is in the custody of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and the efforts to free him appeared to have failed.
On Monday, a delegation of the Awami National Party, led by Vice President Shahi Khan, General Secretary Sherullah Wazir and provincial information secretary Saddaruddin Marwat, was headed to North Waziristan to extend support to the tribal elders and pray for the departed and injured.
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However, the delegation was topped at the Syedgai check post. Upon being refused entry clearance, the ANP delegation staged a protest in front of the check post.