Funeral prayers offered for navy men martyred in Jiwani attack

Funeral prayers were offered for two Pakistan Navy personnel on Tuesday who had been killed in a terrorist attack in Gwadar a day earlier.

Medical technician Syed Hassan Raza and leading fireman Khalil Murad were killed during the attack on a Pakistan Navy vehicle in the Jiwani area of Gwadar, Balochistan, on Monday, said a press release issued by the navy’s directorate of public relations.

Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah, who was present at the funeral in Karachi, condemned the gory attack on the navy personnel and consoled the bereaved families.

He expressed his deep grief and sorrow over the incident, saying that such heinous and cowardly acts could not deter the national resolve of the navy to stand against terrorism.

The naval chief said that the sacrifices of the martyred people for national defence and to root out terrorism from the country were highly praiseworthy. He maintained that a handful of terrorists could not succeed in their nefarious design of destabilising the country.

He reiterated that Pakistan Navy, in collaboration with other law-enforcement agencies, is committed to eradicate the menace of terrorism in the country.

The admiral prayed for eternal peace of the martyred souls and grant of courage to the bereaved families to bear the loss. He also prayed for the swift recovery of those injured.

The naval chief also visited the injured personnel at the PNS Shifa hospital and met families of the deceased and the injured.

Besides Pakistan Navy senior officials, personnel of sister services, relatives, friends and a large number of people also attended the funeral.

In the terror incident, three navy personnel were killed as many others injured when militants fired on a navy vehicle in the Jiwani area on Monday evening.

In a statement, the navy’s spokesman said: “Such acts from extremist elements will not dent our resolve.” 

The statement added that those involved in the attack would be brought to justice. The sailors were transporting iftar items from the Jiwani city when their vehicle was ambushed by four assailants riding two motorbikes. 

Security was tightened after the incident and a search operation was launched in the area to apprehend the culprits. Balochistan Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri condemned the incident and directed the Levies and police to submit a report regarding the attack.  “We will not bow before the terrorists,” he said in his statement.