A Pakistan Army soldier was martyred in a terrorist attack on a military post in Shewa area of North Waziristan district on Saturday.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), army troops initiated a prompt response and effectively engaged the terrorists’ location. During intense exchange of fire, 32-year-old Naik Noor Merjan, a resident of Kurram, embraced martyrdom, the military’s media wing said in a statement. It said that a clearance operation had been launched in the area to eliminate any terrorists found there.
Meanwhile, banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan group has claimed responsibility for last Sunday’s attack on Federal Minister for Science and Technology Shibli Faraz in Darra Adamkhel area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
In a statement released on its official website on December 24, the TTP stated how a few days back its fighters had attacked Shibli Faraz’s convoy, adding that the shooting had resulted in injuries to Shibli Faraz’s bodyguard and driver.
The banned group further stated, “The responsibility for the attack was not taken in a timely manner due to some expediencies, which included precautionary measures.”
The attack, which occurred on December 19, saw the federal science minister being attacked and fired upon by a crowd after he was returning from Kohat, where he had gone for election-related matters.
On the other hand, Aamir Liaquat, a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) member of the National Assembly, said that if the government can talk with the TTP then it can also talk with Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder Altaf Hussain.
A video circulating on the social media showed the PTI lawmaker making these remarks during a rally in Karachi.
In the video, MQM-Pakistan leader Dr Farooq Sattar can also be seen standing next to the PTI representative.
The ruling party’s lawmaker gave this statement after the government offered talks to the TTP, which failed to achieve any success.
Aamir Liaquat also made a video later and posted it on his Twitter account, saying that talks were being held with everyone, so they “(government) should also talk with Altaf Hussain”.
Social media users were divided on this statement. Some of them appreciated the effort, while others opposed it.
Journalist Murtaza Ali Shah shared the video on Twitter with the hashtag ‘MuhajirCultureDay2021’.
Moreover, activist Junaid Raza stated, “Shame on everyone who keeps hiring him, shame on everyone who keeps cheering him on, shame on everyone in the audience who clapped.”
In 2015, Altaf Hussain was declared a fugitive on the charges of treason, incitement of violence, and hate speeches, and was sentenced to 81 years in prison by an anti-terrorism court.
