PM inquires after military men injured in Bannu operation
Pakistan
PM inquires after military men injured in Bannu operation
RAWALPINDI (Dunya News) – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday visited Combined Military Hospital (CMH) to inquire after the military men injured during security forces’ operation at Bannu.
As per Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the PM paid a tribute to soldiers and officers who showcased gallantary to root out the terrorists involved in CTD compound attack and hostage of citizens.
The PM resolved to fight terrorism with iron fists and provide a secure and stable living environment to the citizens. “The sacrifices of our military men will not go in vain”, he added.
Earlier, security forces continued operation against a group of terrorists who attacked the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) compound.
The forces conrdoned off the Cantonment area and suspended internet communication. There were reports that one policeman was killed and three other security pesonnel suffered injuries in the incident. Sources claimed that the suspects were demanding their safe air evacuation to Afghan border.
The suspects also held interrogators hostage.
According to AFP, more than 30 Pakistan Taliban militants were holding several officers hostage on Monday after breaking free from custody and seizing a police station, officials said.
Members of the Tehreek–e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) group -- separate from the Afghan Taliban but with a similar hardline Islamist ideology -- overpowered their jailers on Sunday and snatched weapons.
The militants, held on suspicion of terrorism, are demanding safe passage to Afghanistan, Muhammad Ali Saif, a spokesman for the provincial Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, said in a statement late Sunday.
A senior government official in Bannu, where the incident is unfolding near the border with Afghanistan and Pakistan s former self-governed tribal areas, said hostages were still being held after a failed operation to free them.
"During the interrogation, some of them snatched guns from the policemen and later took the entire staff hostage," he told AFP, on condition of anonymity.
"They want us to provide them safe passage via a ground route or by air. They want to take all the hostages with them and to release them later on the Afghan border or inside Afghanistan."
The TTP claimed responsibility for the incident and demanded authorities provide safe passage to border areas.
"Otherwise, the entire responsibility of the situation will be on the military," the TTP said in a statement.
