- COAS, senior army, civil officers offer funeral of Spinwam martyrs
RAWALPINDI: Six soldiers of Pakistan Army, including a lieutenant colonel, embraced martyrdom during a gunfight with terrorists in North Waziristan’s Spinwam area, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement on Saturday.
The military’s media wing said that the fire exchange with the terrorists of “Fitna Al-Khawarij” took place on the night between October 4 and 5, during which six Khawarij were also killed.
“Lt-Col Muhammad Ali Shaukat was leading the operation against the khawarij when he and five soldiers embraced martyrdom as a result of intense exchange of fire,” said the military’s media wing.
Lt-Col Muhammad Ali Shaukat, aged 43, hailed from Faisalabad and is survived by a widow and three sons.
According to the ISPR, all the martyred soldiers had served the nation with valor. Lance Naik Muhammad Ullah had completed 13 years of service, while Akhtar Zaman had served for 10 years.
“Security forces are determined to eradicate the menace of terrorism. Sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our determination,” the statement added.
Earlier in the day, security forces gunned down a terrorist involved in a recent attack on the convoy of foreign diplomats visiting Swat, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in another statement.
According to army’s media wing, the terrorist was killed during a joint intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Swat’s Charbagh area on the night between October 4-5.
On September 22, a police van escorting the diplomats was targeted by an improvised explosive device (IED) near Malam Jabba, resulting in the death of one policeman and injuries to four others.
However, the foreign diplomats remained safe in the targeted attack.
The military’s media wing said that two terrorists — including “Kharji ring leader Atta Ullah [aka] Mehran — were killed after an intense exchange of fire, while another terrorist was apprehended.
Atta Ullah, the ISPR revealed, remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the area, including the attack on the convoy of foreign dignitaries.
COAS, SENIOR ARMY, CIVIL OFFICERS OFFER FUNERAL PRAYERS OF SPINWAM MARTYRS
Later, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Syed Asim Munir along with senior army and civil officers, soldiers and relatives of the martyrs on Saturday attended the funeral prayers of Army martyrs who valiantly embraced martyrdom in Spinwam area of North Waziristan at Peshawar Garrison, the ISPR said.
According to the military’s media wing, these martyrs include: Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Ali Shoukat Shaheed (age: 43 years, resident of district Faisalabad), Lance Naik Muhammad Ullah (age: 31 Years, resident of District Khyber), Lance Naik Akhtar Zaman (age: 30 years, resident of District Lakki Marwat), Lance Naik Shahid Ullah (age:29 years, resident of District Tank), Lance Naik Yusaf Ali (age:31 years, resident of District Orkazai) and Sepoy Jameel Ahmed (age:26 years, resident of District Swat).
The bodies of the martyrs were sent to their native towns where they will be buried with full military honors. These sacrifices of our martyrs sustain our resolve and courage in the ongoing war against terrorism, the ISPR said.
