Panjgur | Pakistan

GWADAR: A large group of armed men looted millions of rupees from three private banks while counter-terrorism department (CTD) personnel along with local police foiled two other bank robberies after heavy gun battle in Panjgur on Monday. A CTD official and a civilian lost their lives and three other police personnel injured in a heavy exchange of fire took place as the armed robbers atte­mpted to loot two other banks, including National Bank of Pakistan, in Chitkan Bazaar. Officials said over 50 heavily armed men arrived in the area in several vehicles and barged into three banks in the main bazaar area and looted millions of rupees after holding the security guards and staff hostage at gun point. After looting three private banks, the armed men then attempted to enter the NBP and another bank. In the meantime, officials said, police and CTD personnel reached the site and challenged them. Police claim to have foiled two more bank heists “Armed men used heavy weapons in the gun battle and lobbed grenades, whic...

A policeman and a civilian were martyred when terrorists attacked and looted a bank in Balochistan’s Panjgur area, according to police officials. According to police sources, a clash erupted when terrorists attempted to raid a private bank in Panjgur city and police responded, triggering a gun battle. Dara Khan, a constable with the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), was martyred, while another civilian was killed. A source added that two policemen were also injured in the gun battle, while the suspects fled the scene. AFP, citing a police official, reported that Rs1 million had been stolen. Panjgur SSP (Senior Superintendent of Police) Dost Muhammad Bugti told the media that the suspects arrived in four vehicles and that two bank raids were foiled after police responded. “If police had not responded, then all five banks in the city would have been robbed,” he said. Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti issued a statement praising the response by the police and CTD, lauding them for ensuring the “safe...

The National Party (NP) central leader and MPA Rehmat Saleh Baloch’s brother, Waleed Saleh Baloch, was killed in Balochistan’s Panjgur area on Sunday, according to statements by the party and the province’s chief minister. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti condemned the incident in a statement and ordered the immediate arrest of the suspects. “All resources will be used to provide justice to the affected family,” the CM said, according to a statement issued by his office. According to the statement, the CM had sought a report from police regarding the incident. Dawn.com has reached out to the police for further details. Meanwhile, the NP also strongly condemned the incident in a statement, adding that the party would observe three days of mourning. It added that at the time of the incident, Waleed was celebrating his wedding. It said that the incident was not only “the murder of an ordinary citizen but also the murder of a person belonging to a dignified and political family who has always believed in ...

ISLAMABAD: A National Asse­mbly panel was informed on Monday that internet services in Panjgur will remain suspended for next six months over security concerns. The committee was informed that the security agencies had responded to a letter from the Ministry of Interior stating that, due to the prevailing security and law and order situation, internet services in Panjgur district would remain suspended for the next six months. The NA Standing Committee on Information Technology, held with Aminul Haq in the chair was told that this has been communicated to the interior ministry by security agencies in response to a letter, citing prevailing law and order situation as the reason. Expressing concern over this situation, the committee noted that internet services in Panjgur have remained suspended for the past three years, causing severe difficulties for the local population, particularly the business community and students. Consequently, the committee decided to convene an in-camera meeting wherein the Secretary...

Three people were killed on Sunday in two separate shooting incidents in Balochistan’s Panjgur district, police said. Speaking to Dawn.com, Panjgur Deputy Commissioner Zahid Lango said, “Two people were shot dead in the Gomazin area of Panjgur, while another one was killed in a shooting incident in the Zandian Daz area of Panjgur.” The bodies were moved to the Teaching Hospital Panjgur and were consequently handed over to the heirs, he said. The deputy commissioner added that an investigation into the killings was underway and action was being taken to arrest the suspects. The development comes amid a tense security situation prevailing in the province. In Kalat on Friday, unknown armed men shot dead two people, including a woman, in the Killi Mulki area. One person was killed and 10 others injured when a blast struck the convoy of PPP MPA Ali Madad Jattak in Quetta on Wednesday. Last week, at least six people died and seven others were injured in separate incidents in Quetta, Kharan, Surab and Uthal.