MULTAN, Pakistan: At least four militants were killed when police foiled a plot of terrorism in Punjab’s Muzaffargarh district on Saturday when the Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) is being observed across the country.
The district police officer (DPO) Rai Zamir-ul-Haq said that the police personnel at a check post on Mehmoodkot road intercepted a vehicle for routine checking but the elements in the vehicle opened fire at the police.
The DPO said that the police retaliated and killed four militants in the exchange of fire, adding that two police personnel also sustained injuries when the militants hurled two hand grenades at them.
Haq said that suicide vests, rocket launchers and other weapons were recovered from the vehicle.
“There were confirmed intelligence reports that the militants were planning major terrorist attacks in Multan and Muzaffargarh cities,” Haq told a foreign news agency.
“The killed militants belonged to banned Punjabi Taliban’s Abu-Ubaida group and we had received confirmed intelligence reports about their planned activities,” he further said.
In a statement, the Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif appreciated the police personnel for courageously acting and foiling a major terror bid.
Shahbaz Sharif said that the police officers and officials carried out a successful operation taking the terrorists to task.