Col Sohail Abid’s funeral prayers offered

RAWALPINDI: The funeral prayers of Colonel Sohail Abid of Military Intelligence, who embraced martyrdom on May 16, was held in Rawalpindi on Thursday, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

Colonel Abid embraced martyrdom during an operation in Balochistan, in which high-value target of banned terror outfit Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) and two other terrorists were killed. Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa and a large number of senior civil and military officers, soldiers, and relatives of the martyr attended the funeral.

Col Abid will be buried in Bobari near Bara Kahu with full military honour. Abid's father, while speaking to the media, remarked that he was proud of his son for sacrificing his life for the country.

"Due to the sacrifice of my brother, my country's, my district's and my family's head is held high," remarked Abid’s brother. "I am extremely proud of my brother." “Our soldiers have paid the price of freedom with blood,” said Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi who expressed deep grief over the martyrdom of Colonel Sohail Abid. The PM stated that Pakistan's valiant forces will not rest till the last traces of terrorist elements are wiped out from the Pakistani soil.

"Our soldiers have paid the price of freedom with blood and there is no higher sacrifice than it. We as a nation are united than ever against the coward enemy," he said.

Moreover, Punjab Chief Minister ShahbazSharif, former president Asif Ali Zardari and National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan paid rich tributes to the martyred officer.

The operation was conducted in Killi Almas area of Balochistan early Thursday morning. "Security forces conducted an IBO [intelligence-based operation] in Killi Almas, Balochistan on pointation from apprehended HVT [high-value target] about [the] presence of suicide bombers along with other terrorists in hideouts," Inter-Services Public Relations said in a statement. "During intense exchange of fire Colonel Sohail Abid of Military Intelligence embraced shahdat while 4 soldiers got injured including 2 critical," the ISPR added.

Meanwhile, Army Chief General Qamar paid glittering tribute to Colonel Sohail Abid. General Bajwa met the members of Col Sohail Abid’s family. “When a soldier sacrifices his life I lose part flesh of my body and that night is always difficult to pass,” the General said. “But we remain fully determined to sacrifice anything and everything for the defence of our motherland,” the COAS said.

Earlier, a notorious terrorist wanted for more than 100 murders was killed in an intense gunfight with security forces in Balochistan. Pakistani forces raided the Killi Almas village on the outskirts of Quetta, based on a tip off that there were suicide bombers hiding there.

Three militants were killed in the firefight that erupted, including Salman Badeni, the provincial commander of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ). Badeni -- described by authorities as a "high-value target" -- was wanted for his involvement in the killing of more than 100 people, including policemen and members of the Hazara community. The other two militants were suicide bombers, the sources said.