GUJAR KHAN: Captain Hasnain Akhter of the Pakistan Army who embraced martyrdom during an intelligence-based operation in the Dera Ismael Khan on Thursday was laid to rest in his native village in Pind Dadan Khan tehsil of district Jhelum on Friday evening.

According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Friday, the IBO was launched on the reported presence of Khwarij, and ten of them were killed during the operation.

The troops were being led from the front by 24-year-old Captain Hasnain Akhter, who gallantly embraced martyrdom during the operation, the ISPR said.

The ISPR press release further said, “Captain Husnain was a brave officer and was renowned for his courage, bold and daring actions during previous operations.”

During the operation, weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the killed Khwarij, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against law enforcement agencies as well as the targeted killing of innocent civilians, the statement added.

The funeral was attended by Corps Commander Mangla (I Corps), Lieutenant General Nauman Zakaria, Corps Commander Peshawar (XI Corps), Lieutenant General Omer Ahmed Bokhari, District Police Officer (DPO) Jhelum, Tariq Aziz Sindhu, and other senior officers of the military and a large number of locals.

Active contingents of the military presented a guard of honour at the grave of the martyr while floral wreaths were also presented on behalf of Chief of Army Staff (CAOS) General Syed Asim Munir.

Talking to media persons, the father of the martyr, retired Havaldar Akhter said that he had also served in the army and his son was recruited as an officer in 2019.

He added that he felt pride and was grateful to Allah for choosing his “son for the defence of the country established in the name of Islam.”

Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2025