DERA ISMAIL KHAN: A chief minister’s special assistant and senior government officials on Friday reiterated the need for greater public and media cooperation in the fight against terrorism, saying militancy could only be defeated through a united national effort.
Special assistant to chief minister on home and tribal affairs Tariq Saeed, chief secretary Shahab Ali Shah and inspector general of police Zulfiqar Hameed were addressing a joint press conference following their visit to Tank, where they attended the funeral prayers of security personnel martyred in Manjhikhel joint check-post attack.
The funeral prayers for police constables Bilal Khan and Tala Mohammad and Forest Department guard Noor Azam were offered with full state honours at the police lines in Tank. Floral wreaths were laid on the coffins, while a police contingent presented a guard of honour.
The funerals were attended by IGP Zulfiqar Hameed, chief secretary Shahab Ali Shah, special assistant Tariq Saeed, additional IGP (CTD) Jawad Qamar, commissioner Dera Ismail Khan Daud Khan, regional police officer Ghulam Mubashir Mekan, DPO Tank Abdul Samad Khan, Tank deputy commissioner Jamshed Khan, senior civil and police officials, relatives of the martyrs and local elders.
Later, the officials visited injured police constables Ismatullah, Jasim Khan, Dad Khan and Pir Ghulam, at the District Headquarters Hospital in Tank. They praised their courage and announced financial assistance.
Tariq Saeed said the government was utilising all resources to eliminate terrorism and restore peace across the province, particularly in the southern districts.
“Terrorism cannot be defeated without the active cooperation of the public and the media,” he said, adding that hostile elements would never succeed in their designs if all stakeholders remained united.
Chief secretary Shahab Ali Shah described the recent attacks in Tank and other southern districts as a serious challenge but said the government and security agencies were responding through coordinated operations.
Referring to the national unity displayed after the 2014 Army Public School attack, Mr Shah said the country once again needed the same spirit of solidarity to confront the latest wave of terrorism.
Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2026
