A statement from the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that between the night of Monday and Tuesday, terrorists “carried out a cowardly attack” on a rural health centre in the district’s Kirri Shamozai area and opened indiscriminate fire on staff.
“Resultantly, five innocent civilians, including two lady health Workers, two children and one watchman embraced martyrdom.
“Security forces in vicinity were immediately mobilised for clearance operation in rural health centre and in ensuing fire exchange, own troops effectively engaged the terrorists as a result of which three terrorists were sent to hell,” the ISPR said.
It added that 44-year-old Naib Subedar Muhammad Farooq, a resident of Narowal district, and 23-year-old Sepoy Muhammad Javed Iqbal, a resident of Khanewal district, were martyred during the intense exchange of fire.
“Sanitisation of area is being carried out to eliminate any other terrorist found in the area. The perpetrators of this heinous and cowardly act targeting innocent civilians, especially women and children, will be brought to justice.” the ISPR said.
The funeral prayers of the two soldiers were later offered.Pakistan has witnessed an uptick in terror activities in the past year, especially in KP and Balochistan after the TTP ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022.
According to an annual security report issued by the Centre for Research and Security Studies, Pakistan witnessed 1,524 violence-related fatalities and 1,463 injuries from 789 terror attacks and counter-terror operations in 2023 — marking a record six-year high.
KP and Balochistan were the primary centres of violence, accounting for over 90 per cent of all fatalities and 84pc of attacks, including incidents of terrorism and security forces operations.
