ISLAMABAD: Terrorists first kidnapped a senior military officer and then killed him which has shocked the entire nation. A tourist accompanying the army officer still remains missing.
In a statement ISPR said, Lieutenant Colonel Laiq Baig Mirza and his cousin had travelled to Ziarat to visit Quaid-e-Azam’s residency on July 12.
While returning to Quetta between the night of July 12-13, they were intercepted by a group of a dozen of terrorists near Warchoom in Ziarat.
ISPR said that soon after receiving information about the abduction, a quick reaction force (QRF) of the army chased the terrorists and they managed to trace the abducted officer and his kidnappers as the latter drove towards their hideouts in the general area of Mangi Dam.
Subsequently, a search operation was launched by security forces, including the SSG commandos and helicopters.
A search and rescue team spotted a group of six to eight terrorists moving through a drain in the nearby mountains on the night of July 13 and 14.
According to the ISPR, when the terrorists sensed that they could be encircled, they shot Lt Col Mirza and attempted to flee. The military said that an exchange of fire ensued between the terrorists and security forces.
“Two terrorists were killed while a cache of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), explosives and ammunition were recovered,” the statement read, adding, that the remaining terrorists managed to flee along with the other abductee for the time being. Later on, the terrorists shot dead the army officer and disappeared.
The ISPR said the security forces remain resolute to thwart cowardly attempts at sabotaging the peace, stability and progress of Balochistan.
