During the early hours of Sunday, a police officer was martyred, and two terrorists were neutralized in an assault on the Kundal patrolling post in Mianwali, reported Punjab police chief Usman Anwar. In a bold operation supported by the Counter Terrorism Department Punjab, an attack orchestrated by 12 to 15 terrorists around 23:45 hours was successfully repelled. The confrontation lasted until 7 a.m., resulting in the martyrdom of Head Constable Haroon and injuries to multiple terrorists.
Subsequent searches led to the discovery of two terrorist bodies, one of whom was identified as Zubair Nawaz, a high-profile wanted criminal linked to several crimes, including the killing of police officers. The second identified terrorist was Muhammad Khan, who was deemed even more dangerous than Zubair. Both identifications were made using advanced tools and collaboration with intelligence agencies. Dr. Usman Anwar reiterated the security forces’ commitment to ensuring public safety, emphasizing their continued stance against terrorism.
Reactions to the Attack
In a subsequent interview, IG Anwar vowed to intensify operations against terrorists in the region, hinting at advanced knowledge of potential attacks and praising the forces’ preparedness during the assault.
The Punjab caretaker Chief Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, acknowledged the bravery of the fallen officer Haroon, pledging support to his family. Other prominent figures, including former PM Shehbaz Sharif and Interim Interior Minister Safaraz Bugti, also expressed their condemnation of the attack and solidarity with the security forces, emphasizing their crucial role in the battle against terrorism.