ISPR says slain terrorist was ‘Waheedullah’, responsible for martyrdom of Lt Col Gul Faraz
DERA ISMAIL KHAN:
A police officer was martyred and four terrorists, including two highly wanted commanders, were killed in two separate intelligence-based operations in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, officials confirmed on Monday.
In an operation, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement: “After an intense exchange of fire, two Khwarij, belonging to Indian-sponsored Fitna-al-Khwarij, including Kharji Ring leader Waheedullah alias Muktiar, along with a suicide bomber were sent to hell.” A suicide vest, arms and ammunition were also recovered from the deceased terrorists.
The state uses the term Fitna al Khawarij to refer to terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The ISPR said terror network leader Waheedullah was “among the most wanted terrorists” due to his involvement in multiple terrorist activities, including attacks that led to the “shahadat of security forces personnel and innocent civilians.”
According to the statement, he was also primarily responsible for a suicide bomber in Bannu district on February 21, 2026, an attack in which Lieutenant Colonel Gul Faraz was martyred.
On February 22, 2026, during an intelligence operation against terrorists, including a suicide bomber, a security force convoy was “attacked by Indian representative Fitna al Khawarij.” The ISPR said the suicide bomber traveling in a vehicle was intercepted and the terrorists rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a security forces vehicle. As a result, Lieutenant Colonel Shahzada Gul Faraz (43) of Mansehra, who was leading from the front, and Sepoy Karamat Shah (28) of Peshawar, embraced martyrdom.
The ISPR said the operation had “avenged the heinous act and brought the main perpetrator to justice”, adding that the “timely action of the security forces also averted a major catastrophe”.
The ISPR said that a disinfection operation is being carried out in the area to eliminate the remaining terrorists. He added that Pakistan’s “relentless anti-terror campaign under the ‘Azm-e-Istehkam’ vision”, approved by the Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan, will continue at full pace.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif praised security forces for a successful intelligence-based operation against Fitna Al Khwarij in Bannu, according to the state broadcaster. Radio Pakistan information.
In their statements, they said that the murder of the Khawarij network leader and the suicide bomber reflects the professional skills and bravery of the security forces:
President Zardari said that at a time when Pakistan is dedicating all its efforts towards regional and global peace, our enemies seek to undermine those efforts through terrorism. He said that we will thwart these conspiracies against peace and against Islam. The President reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to eliminating the menace of terrorism.
Prime Minister Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s firm commitment to eradicate terrorism from the country.
Lakki Marwat
In a separate operation of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), two terrorists were killed, including a highly wanted commander, and a police constable was martyred in the Akhundan forest civil camp area near the Bannu border, a CTD spokesperson said on Monday.
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The spokesperson said in a statement that the Lakki police successfully carried out a targeted operation based on intelligence in the border area adjoining Bannu district, where there was an intense exchange of fire with terrorists linked to “Fitna al-Khawarij”.
According to the statement, two militants were killed and several others were injured. Taking advantage of the darkness and the forest terrain, the terrorists managed to escape with their wounded comrades.
During the operation, Police Constable Atiqur Rehman (FRP) embraced martyrdom “while showing exceptional courage and sacrifice for the country,” the statement said.
Among the dead was a much-wanted commander, Amir Sohail alias Aqabi, also known as Omar Khattab, son of Muhammad Zaman alias Guloon, resident of Kotka Shah Muhammad, Lakki Marwat. He was wanted by the CTD in multiple cases, including targeted killings, attacks on police and security forces, bomb blasts and other serious crimes.
The spokesperson said a large-scale search operation involving police, CTD and armored vehicles is underway in the area. He added that the Lakki Marwat police are playing a frontline role in the fight against terrorism and remain committed to eliminating militancy while all available resources are being used to maintain peace and order in the district.
KP has been fighting terrorism since the US expulsion from Afghanistan, and terrorists often cross the border to attack police convoys and vehicles, resulting in the deaths of several officials and staff.
On Sunday, two Federal Police (FC) personnel were martyred after unidentified terrorists on motorcycles opened fire on them in Bannu. According to police sources, FC staff were shopping at a local market when the attackers suddenly opened fire on them. The attackers fled the scene after the shooting.
The province has witnessed a rise in terrorist attacks, accounting for the highest number of incidents in the country. Out of a total of 5,397 incidents reported last year, KP recorded 3,811, followed by Balochistan with 1,557 incidents. Only 29 incidents were reported in the rest of the country. During the year, a total of 2,597 terrorists were killed.
