Captain among 7 soldiers martyred in Lakki Marwat blast

RAWALPINDI: Seven Pakistan Army personnel, including a captain, were martyred on Sunday after an improvised explosive device (IED) hit a vehicle of security forces in Lakki Marwat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Sunday.

Captain Muhammad Faraz Ilyas, 26, resident of Kasur district along with six other soldiers — Subedar Major Muhammad Nazir, 50, resident of Skardu district; Lance Naik Muhammad Anwar, 34, resident of Ghanchi district; Lance Naik Hussain Ali, 36, resident of: Ghizer district; Sepoy Asad Ullah, 33, resident of Multan district; Sepoy Manzoor Hussain, 27, resident of Gilgit district and Sepoy Rashid Mehmood, 31, resident of Rawalpindi district, made the ultimate sacrifice and embraced shahadat, according to the ISPR.

Captain Faraz Shaheed’s wedding was scheduled to take place was June 19, Geo News reported.

It also said that the sansitisation of the area is being carried out to eliminate any terrorists present in the area and perpetrators of this heinous act will be brought to justice.

“The security forces of Pakistan are determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve,” the ISPR said.

President Asif Ali Zardari expressed grief over the shahadat of personnel of security forces.

The president paid tribute to the martyred personnel of Pakistan Army and prayed for the high ranks of departed souls, President Secretariat Press Wing said in a press release. He also condemned the IED attack by the terrorists and reiterated the resolve of the entire nation to root out the cancer of terrorism. Paying tribute to the sacrifices and valour of shaheed personnel, the president said the nation would never forget the sacrifices of its sons and Shuhada and expressed condolences with the bereaved families and prayed for them to bear the losses with fortitude.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, while reiterating the resolve to continue fighting against terrorism till its complete elimination, expressed his deep grief over the shahadat of seven security personnel. The prime minister prayed for the bereaved families to bear the loss with equanimity, the PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.

He said the entire nation saluted the law enforcement agencies for their services and unprecedented sacrifices and stood with the brave Jawans. The prime minister also resolved to make terrorists accountable.

Meanwhile, Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq condemned the terrorist and expressed grief over the martyrdom of security personnel. He said that sacrifices of brave security personnel will never go waste.

Interior Minister Senator Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi strongly condemned the attack and conveyed heartfelt condolences to the families of martyrs, adding they laid down their lives for peace and security of the motherland. Naqvi said the entire nation is united in its resolve to eliminate the menace of terrorism. He added that cowardly acts cannot weaken nation’s determination.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari condemned the attack and expressed his sorrow over the martyrdom of the brave soldiers. He emphasized that the entire nation takes immense pride in its martyrs. He extended his heartfelt condolences and prayers to the families of the martyrs and the injured. He affirmed that such cowardly acts of terrorism will never weaken the resolve of the Pakistani nation and its armed forces. He reiterated Pakistan’s resolute commitment to combating terrorism, vowing that this war will persist until the very last terrorist is eliminated.