Attack in Ziarat Leaves Nine Police Officers Martyred
On Tuesday, a deadly attack occurred in the Kach Mangi Phase III area of Ziarat, a tourist district in Balochistan. At least nine police officers, including two Station House Officers (SHOs), were killed by terrorists affiliated with Fitna al-Khawarij. The incident took place when the terrorists targeted police personnel on duty in the region.
According to the Ziarat Superintendent of Police (SP) Abdul Qadoos Dehwar, security forces and law enforcement agencies conducted a joint clearance operation following the attack. During this operation, 15 terrorists were killed. The exchange of heavy gunfire between police and the attackers lasted for several hours.
Among those who lost their lives were SHO Mangi Muhammad Hussain, SHO Kawas Sohbat Khan, Head Constable Saifullah from the Anti-Terrorist Force (ATF), and other police personnel. The operation involved multiple agencies, including the Frontier Corps (FC), Balochistan Police, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), the Special Operations Wing, and the ATF.
Balochistan Chief Minister’s spokesperson, Shahid Rind, confirmed that the operation was aimed at clearing the area of terrorists and locating police personnel who had gone missing after the attack. He mentioned that Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ghulam Sarwar and eight other police officers safely reached Kach Police Station after navigating difficult mountainous terrain. Another missing constable, Rizwan, was also recovered without injury.
Rind paid tribute to the fallen personnel and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to continue anti-terror operations until militancy is eradicated from the province.
Tragedy in Quetta: Toy Bomb Explosion Claims Two Lives
In a separate incident, two children were killed and another injured in a toy bomb explosion in the Saryab area of Quetta. According to TV channels, the children were playing with what appeared to be a toy when it suddenly exploded, causing a loud blast. The incident resulted in two fatalities and one injured child.
Rescue teams transported the bodies and the injured child to a nearby hospital for legal formalities and medical treatment. Law enforcement authorities have launched an investigation to determine the nature of the explosive device and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Prime Minister Condemns Terrorist Attack
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Ziarat. He paid tribute to the police officers who were martyred and prayed for their elevation in paradise. The premier also commended the security forces for killing 15 terrorists during the operation.
Foiled Terrorist Plot in Karachi
Separately, a major terrorist plot was foiled in Karachi after the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) arrested two militants linked to the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). Officials identified the arrested militants as Mujahid Baloch and Farid Baloch alias Zakir Bin.
According to CTD officials, both men had received training at BLA camps, where they were instructed in reconnaissance and communications. They were operating in Karachi under the direction of BLA commanders Sajid Baloch and Bashir Zaib. Their mission involved gathering intelligence on sensitive installations and passing the information to the militant group.
The CTD stated that the terrorists were working to establish a network targeting sensitive government facilities and law enforcement agencies in the city. During the operation, authorities recovered four kilograms of explosive material, a detonator, a primer cord, and ball bearings, which could be used in the assembly of improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
A case has been registered against the arrested militants at a CTD police station, with further investigations ongoing.
