ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Tuesday directed Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to apprehend terrorists involved in militant attacks in Mach and Chilas on urgent basis.

Expressing deep shock and grief, the prime minister has strongly condemned the tragic incidents that left at least 17 people dead earlier on Tuesday morning.

Prime Minister Sharif directed the interior minister to immediately coordinate through federal and provincial law enforcement and intelligence agencies to hunt down the terrorists responsible for the attacks.

The interior minister should ensure all possible support in this regard and a comprehensive report about the progress be submitted to the premier, a press release issued by the Prime Minister's office said.

Three people, including SSP Diamer Muhammad Hilal and two army officers, were killed when their convoy came under attack in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Chilas area.

In the other incident, rebel separatists killed 14 people, mostly belonging to Punjab including three security officers, after stopping vehicles at a fake checkpoint in Mach area of Bolan district in Balochistan.