QUETTA: In a fierce gun battle that lasted several hours, at least five suspects, including one wanted in several terrorism cases, were killed during an intelligence-based operation led by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of police in Balochistan’s Pishin district, officials said on Monday.

At least 10 CTD officials also sustained injuries during the exchange of fire, they said.

The CTD personnel seized a huge quantity of arms, including rocket launchers, hand grenades and SMGs, and ammunition from their possession.

The Balochistan police spokesperson said that a CTD Quetta team raided the house of a declared absconder Sanaullah Agha, who was wanted to police in terrorism cases, and his brothers to arrest them, but they started firing on the personnel.

Ten officials injured in hours-long gun battle; rockets, hand grenades and other arms seized

Despite repeated warnings by the police to them to surrender, they fired at CTD officials using modern weapons and an exchange of fire ensued. During the gun battle, CTD officials Khadim Hussain, Manzoor Ahmed, Gul Muhammad, Khair Jan, Asadullah, Shamsheer Ali, Ehsanullah, Aimal and Moaz Ahmed sustained injuries.

Also, the suspects were wounded in the encounter, but they managed to flee under the cover of fire.

Acting on the information, a reinforcement of personnel, headed by senior police officers, chased the suspects. Led by CTD DIG Aitzaz Ahmed Goraya, the operation culminated in the killing of Sanaullah Agha and his accomplices, the spokesman said.

The clearance operation was completed by 4.30pm, the spokesperson added.

Residents of Pishin district, particularly those living in Kali Karbala, expressed satisfaction over the successful operation that they said would put an end to fear and panic in the area.

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2026