PTI to hold rally in solidarity with Pakistan army

Days after security forces successfully carried out a rescue operation after last week's Jaffar Express hijacking in the Bolan district of Balochistan, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced that it will hold a rally to express solidarity with martyred Pakistan army personnel and victims of the train attack, a leading English Newspaper reported on Sunday.

In a video statement, PTI Punjab’s Vice President Akmal Khan Bari, while condemning the attack, called it “an extreme act of brutality.” He added, “This was an attack on Pakistan, and we will never forget it.”

As per the media report, the rally is scheduled for Tuesday, March 18, and will begin at the General Post Office (GPO) Chowk in Lahore and conclude at the Punjab Assembly.

PTI’s Punjab Vice President said, “We urge the Punjab government not to create any obstacles. This will be a peaceful rally to honour the martyrs of the Jaffer Express tragedy and the brave soldiers who lost their lives.”

Furthermore, he called on PTI workers, lawyers, and civil society members to join in great numbers.

The party believes that a strong turnout will send a clear message of unity and support for the nation’s armed forces. “This is not just about PTI. It’s about Pakistan and its people standing together,” Bari said.

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) chief Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry last week announced that the Bolan Green rescue operation was successfully completed after nearly 30 hours as all attackers were eliminated and hostages freed.

 
Speaking to a private news channel, Chaudhry confirmed that the complex operation had been completed by units from the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), Special Services Group (SSG), army and Frontier Corps (FC).

 
He said that all 33 terrorists had been killed while confirming that no passenger was harmed during the clearance operation. However, he added that before the clearance operation, 21 passengers were martyred by the terrorists.

At least four FC soldiers were also martyred during an exchange of fire, he said.

The attack, the most brazen one carried out by the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) to date, began on Tuesday afternoon when terrorists attacked the train near the Mashkaf tunnel, about 150 kilometres out of Quetta, taking hostage all 400 passengers on board. 

Meanwhile, on Sunday, a security forces convoy in Nushki district of Balochistan came under attack when a vehicle-borne suicide bomber attacked it, leaving three Frontier Corps (FC) soldiers and two civilians martyred, said the ISPR.

“In the ensuing sanitisation operation, the terrorists were pursued, and after [an] intense fire exchange, three terrorists were effectively neutralised by the security forces,” said the military media wing.

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