Islamabad, Pakistan: Pakistani police fought for more than 10 hours with militants they said were planning to attack the home of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, officials said Thursday.
An intelligence officer and two militants were killed when the shootout erupted during an overnight operation in the eastern city of Lahore, said police chief Zulfiqar Hameed. Shuja Khanzada, a provincial counterterrorism official, said the gunbattle took place at a house near Sharif's residence, which he said was the "prime target" of the militants.
Sharif was away from the residence at the time, receiving a briefing at Pakistani military headquarters on a major offensive launched against militants in the lawless northwest.
In a separate incident, a roadside bomb killed six people in the northwestern city of Hangu. Police official Abid Khan said a smaller bomb exploded first, causing no casualties, and that the larger bomb went off after bystanders had gathered at the scene.
The target of the bombs was not clear, and no one claimed responsibility for them.
Suspicion is likely to fall on Pakistani Taliban militants, who have been fighting to overthrow the government and impose their harsh brand of Islamic law on the country. The group has killed thousands of people over the last decade in a campaign of bombings and other attacks against government officials, security forces and civilians.
Since assuming office last summer, Sharif has been trying to negotiate a deal with the militants to end the decade-long violence.
But those efforts largely collapsed after militants attacked the international airport in the southern city of Karachi last month. The attack was followed by a major military operation in the North Waziristan region, a lawless tribal area that includes Taliban and other insurgent strongholds.
The Pakistani military says it has killed over 480 local and foreign militants in the operation and lost at least 26 soldiers.
Khanzada said the plot against Sharif's home was in response to the offensive. "We were expecting this. We are acting against the militant sleeper cells."
Punjab provincial law minister Rana Mashhood said intelligence had tipped off the authorities and that security forces had seized a large amount of weaponry, explosives and suicide vests.
Sharif survived an attempt on his life during a previous stint as prime minister in 1998, when militants blew up a bridge minutes before he was supposed to cross it en route to the same house in Lahore.
An intelligence officer and two militants were killed when the shootout erupted during an overnight operation in the eastern city of Lahore, said police chief Zulfiqar Hameed. Shuja Khanzada, a provincial counterterrorism official, said the gunbattle took place at a house near Sharif's residence, which he said was the "prime target" of the militants.
Sharif was away from the residence at the time, receiving a briefing at Pakistani military headquarters on a major offensive launched against militants in the lawless northwest.
The target of the bombs was not clear, and no one claimed responsibility for them.
Advertisement
Since assuming office last summer, Sharif has been trying to negotiate a deal with the militants to end the decade-long violence.
Advertisement
The Pakistani military says it has killed over 480 local and foreign militants in the operation and lost at least 26 soldiers.
Advertisement
Punjab provincial law minister Rana Mashhood said intelligence had tipped off the authorities and that security forces had seized a large amount of weaponry, explosives and suicide vests.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Watch: Babar Azam Cops Blow From Teammate's Vicious Delivery, Gets Bowled Next Ball Pakistan Release Abrar Ahmed, Kamran Ghulam From 1st Test Squad vs Bangladesh UAE Possible Candidate To Host Women's T20 World Cup 2024, Bangladesh Ask For More Time Kolkata Rape-Murder: Fractures, 150 mg Semen, Other Claims Denied By Cops Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah To Be Prosecuted In Land Scam Case Life On Earth Originates From One Ancestor, Older Than Previously Believed Mumbai University Invites Applications For Distance Learning Courses 17 Palestinians Killed In Israeli Strike On Gaza Amid Raging War Tips For Navigating The Ivy League Admission Process Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.