KOHAT/DI KHAN/MANSEHRA: One of the security personnel who embraced martyrdom in the Jaffar Express incident was laid to rest in the remote area of Warshand here the other day.

He was presented full military honours and a gun salute. His funeral was attended by the operation commander, Kohat, Col Hidayat, besides other officers, jawans and people of the area.

He embraced martyrdom in the hostage taking incident of Jaffar Express by a group of terrorists in which four persons of the armed forces, 21 hostages, and 33 insurgents had been killed.

The separatist Baluchistan Liberation Army, which later claimed responsibility for the carnage, had attacked nine carriages with rocket-propelled grenades of the train in the rugged mountainous terrain.

In all, over 400 passengers were on their way from Baluchistan to Peshawar. Many survived the attack by fleeing away in a rain of bullets.

Meanwhile, funeral prayers of Frontier Corps (FC) soldier Mohammad Shoaib, who was martyred while providing security to Jaffar Express, was offered in his native village of Pota, Dera Ismail Khan on Friday. He was laid to rest with full military honours.

A large number of locals, family members, civil and military officials attended the funeral. Floral wreaths were laid on the martyr’s grave, and the guards presented a salute as a mark of respect.

Mohammad Shoaib’s bravery, various postings, and performance during his service were highlighted at the ceremony. He embraced martyrdom while fighting terrorists in the line of duty.

The martyr’s family expressed pride in Shoaib’s sacrifice, calling it a great honour for the safety and security of Pakistan.

Meanwhile in Mansehra, Mohammad Mumtaz, an employee of Pakistan Railways, who was also martyred in the Jaffar Express attack, was laid to rest in the Khen Shakora village near Buttle on Friday.

A large number of people, including family members, and former federal parliamentary secretary and MPA Sardar Shahjehan Yusuf, attended the funeral prayers.

Earlier, the body of the martyred railway employee was transported from Islamabad in the early hours.

Mohammad Mumtaz has left behind his wife and seven minor children.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2025