Five abducted labourers recovered: ISPR

RAWALPINDI: The security forces recovered five abducted labourers during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Kurram Tribal district on Thursday.

The recovered labourers were among 16 who were abducted by terrorists on June 26.

According to the ISPR, 16 labourers working at a mobile tower site in Kurram tribal district were abducted by unknown terrorists.

The next day, 10 out of 16 were released and the body of one labourer was found.

To rescue the remaining five abducted labourers, security forces launched series of IBOs in highly inhospitable terrain under extreme weather conditions.

Terrorists were continuously tracked and pursued. In an IBO on July 13, three terrorists were killed and Captain Basit Ali and Sepoy Hazrat Bilal sacrificed their lives for the cause of rescuing the innocent labourers.

With determination, security forces continued the pursuit of terrorists and on Thursday, during another exchange of fire, successfully rescued five abducted labourers.

The operation is still under way to apprehend and eliminate the remaining terrorists.

"Security forces are consistently endeavouring to ensure the security and well being of our innocent civilians, who have been whole heartedly supporting the security forces in fighting the menace of terrorism," the ISPR said in a statement.