PESHAWAR: Security forces killed one alleged terrorist during an intelligence-based operation in North Waziristan’s Mirali area, said an official statement on Monday.

An intense fire exchange took place between troops and terrorists during which one terrorist was killed, said the military’s media wing, Inter-services Public Relations (ISPR). Weapon and ammunition was also recovered from the killed terrorist. The statement did not carry name of the terrorist killed during the encounter.

The terrorist remained actively involved in terrorist activities against security forces and killing of innocent citizens, it added. He was also involved in target killing of Qari Sami in North Waziristan district.

Locals appreciated the operation and expressed their full support to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the area. Qari Sami, a local leader of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Fazl), was killed along with his friend last month. Locals had staged a sit-in protest against the JUI-F leader’s killing.

All roads in the district were blocked and people had boycotted official functions and stopped visiting offices in protest against the deadly attack. The protest was put off for two weeks after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sent a committee comprising leaders of different political parties for talks with the protesters.

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2022