Gunbattle near PM’s Raiwind estate kills two terrorists

• Security personnel raid compound in Araiyan Pind just two kilometres away from Nawaz Sharif’s estate, kill two terrorists after 10-hour-long clashes
• Govt ministers say terrorists ‘might have been plotting an attack on premier’
• Punjab CM announces Rs 10m compensation for family of martyred intelligence operative

An intelligence operative was killed while three others were injured in a gunfight between security agencies and suspected terrorists early on Thursday about a mile away from the Raiwind estate of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

The security personnel managed to kill one suspected terrorist on the spot while another was captured after being injured in the shootout that continued for over 10 hours. The arrested terrorist later succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.

Police and government officials said the terrorists might have been plotting an attack on Prime Minister Sharif, who was not at the estate, in retaliation to the military operation against Taliban in North Waziristan Agency (NWA).

Intelligence sources said that the raid was conducted by a military intelligence agency on information gleaned from some suspects, including Qari Munir and a woman identified as Manzooran, who were taken into custody from Bahawalnagar two days ago. The security agency had also seized weapons and explosives from their possession.

The sources said that during interrogation, the suspected terrorists pointed out the presence of their accomplices in Arayian Pind following which a team raided the village compound. They said that as soon as the terrorists noticed the security personnel, they opened fire, resulting in the death of Naik Sabir Hussain, a junior commissioned officer. A gunfight with the terrorists stretched into the morning and Rangers and Elite Force personnel were summoned to assist the intelligence sleuths.

Meanwhile, the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) was called in at the site of the shootout after security personnel found three live grenades at the premises. The BDS personnel also defused four RPG-7 rockets.

The sources said that terrorists were residents of Hujra Shah Muqeem in Okara district and had rented the compound about six months ago. They said that neighbours had reported little activity in the house during the day but said that visitors would come at night. A woman and several children had been seen at the compound, but they were not present at the time of the police raid, sources said.

The sources said that one of the dead terrorists had been identified as Ahsan Mahboob, who was reportedly a student of BSc Chemistry at a Lahore university. Security agencies had also arrested the compound’s landlord who had rented the place to the militants. He has been identified as Manzoor Sattar, who lives in a nearby village.

They said that security agencies had earlier taken into custody some accomplices of Ahsan from Hujra Shah Muqeem. They were identified as Aashiq, Zulfiqar, Aijaz and Naeem.

MINISTER WARNS AGAINST LONG MARCHES:

Addressing a press conference after the raid, Punjab Minister for Anti-Terrorism Col (r) Shuja Khanzada said that the operation was drawn-out because the law enforcement agencies had received reports that two women and children were also present in the compound and that Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had strictly ordered them to ensure their safety.

“There will be terrorism in every city, town and village,” he said, referring to the blowback from the NWA operation. “Terrorists are targeting everyone. Long marches need to come to an end as wiping out terrorism is the number one priority,” he added.

Moreover, talking to journalists, Punjab Law Minister Rana Mashhood said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif could have been a possible target of the terrorists as his Raiwind estate was just two kilometres away from the scene of the clash.

The law minister also said that the premier and top leadership of the government were receiving threats due to the ongoing military operation in NWA.

Meanwhile, the Punjab chief minister has announced compensation amounting to Rs 10 million for the family of martyred Naik Sabir Hussain, while the injured personnel would be given Rs 1 million each.