Daily Times

The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on Wednesday claimed to have killed four suspected terrorists, including one under custody, in a shootout that continued for around three hours in Tera Meel area of Dasht. A child passing by the area was reportedly killed in crossfire.

According to the CTD spokesperson, a convoy of the squad carrying the under custody suspect came under fire in Tera Meel area. The squad returned fire and killed for assailants. Six CTD men and a labourer working in the area suffered bullet injuries.

The CTD spokesperson said that the deceased assailants included a woman

Later in the day, DIG Abdul Razzak Cheema and FC Commandant Col Rab Nawaz addressed a press conference to confirm the operation. They said the assailants were apparently wanted for various terrorist activities including targetted killing of Levies personnel.

DIG Cheema said on the occasion, “Our war is against terrorists and the frequency of this war has increased after May 15.” He said terrorists were operating by changing their identities, adding that the law enforcement was committed to eliminating all terrorist safe havens with assistance from intelligence agencies.

Following the operation, CTD officials carried out a search of the compound used by the suspected terrorists, saying they recovered large amounts of weapons and explosives.

Later, Balochistan IG Mohsin Hassan Butt visited the site where he was briefed by CTD officials.

Separately, in the Nawakilli area of Quetta, a policeman’s vehicle came under attack by unidentified men. The policeman, identified as an inspector at the Jinnah Town police station, his son and a relative were critically injured and shifted to a nearby hospital where the son and relative passed away. The policeman was shifted to the Combined Military Hospital.

Published in Daily Times, June 21^st 2018.