The ground operation started in and around Miranshah early morning on the 30th. House to house search of Miranshah town is being carried out by infantry troops with special operations forces operatives.
15 terrorists have been eliminated in ground offensive so far this day. Troops have recovered underground tunnels and IEDs preparation factories inside the, so far, cleared area. 3 soldiers have been injured in exchange of fire. Meanwhile integrated firing by artillery, tanks and other heavy weapons are being carried out on terrorists’ concentrations in Mirali and other areas.
Since the start of the operation, 376 terrorists have been killed while 19 terrorists have surrendered to the security forces. 61 terrorist’shideouts have been destroyed in the operation. 17 Soldiers have embraced martyrdom during the operation.
PM to hold consultations with various political parties
PM Nawaz Sharif has decided to hold consultations with various political parties on the situation in the country evolving in the wake of the military operation in North Waziristan. All parliamentary leaders will be invited to discuss the military operation and the IDPs issue.
IDPs and Ramazan
For the half a million IDPs, the prospect of fasting during the holy month of Ramazan amid severe food shortages has sharpened anger towards the government.
Temperatures approach 50C and riots frequently break out over the lack of food supplies. Despite the misery, many are hopeful that Ramazan would still bring blessings.
Relief efforts for IDPs
Distribution of relief items for IDPs continues at Bannu, DI Khan and Tank. 30,000 ration packs each of 110 Kilogram have been distributed so far.
276 ton Rations have been collected so far at 55 Relief donations points established by Army in major cities and being transported to Bannu.
5665 Patients have been treated at the Field Medical Hospital established at Bannu by Army.
6435 cattle have been provided veterinary treatment while 17659 cattle and 30545 poultry have been vaccinated.
Sindh CM Qaim Ali Shah today met PM Nawaz Sharif and Army Chief General Raheel Sharif and presented cheques worth Rs.100 million to help the IDPs.
Polio vaccination campaign
Health authorities have been able to vaccinate more than 192,442 previously unreachable children against polio, officials say.
The officials said that children were vaccinated at permanent transit points set up in FR Bannu, and in Hangu. The rest of the children were vaccinated in Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu and Lakki Marwat districts
Former DG ISPR: NWA operation was planned in 2010
Former DG ISPR, Maj Gen (retd) Athar Abbas said that the decision to launch a full scale operation against terrorists in NWA had been taken by the military leadership in 2010. He said that the operation could not be initiated due to the indecisiveness of Gen (retd) Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.
Rehman Malik: Operation should had been started 8 months ago
PPP’s leader and former Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that the operation against militants should had started eight months ago.
Other Developments
The Senate has unanimously passed the Protection of Pakistan Bill 2014 which permits security forces to shoot suspects on sight with the permission of a grade-15 official.
Two traffic police personnel were martyred in Orangi Town in what is believed to be target killing in reaction to law enforcement agencies’ operation against militants in Karachi.
Reported by: Fahad Nabeel and Khoulah Afzal
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