Federal Minister for Railways, Muhammad Hanif Abbasi, announced on Tuesday that the Jaffar Express would resume its operations, according to state-run Radio Pakistan. This comes after the train service was suspended last week following a terrorist attack on the Peshawar-bound train in Balochistan.
The attack, carried out by Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) militants, occurred on a Tuesday afternoon when the train, carrying 440 passengers, was ambushed. The terrorists opened fire and took hostages, prompting a security operation that lasted two days. On Wednesday evening, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed the operation had ended, with 33 terrorists killed. Tragically, 26 hostages, including 18 security personnel, lost their lives, although no hostages were harmed during the final rescue phase. Additionally, five more security personnel were martyred in the operation.
Abbasi shared with the media that the suspension was due to damage caused to the railway track during the attack, but assured that the track had now been fully repaired. He also revealed that drone surveillance would be implemented for train operations in Balochistan to enhance security. In a bid to further safeguard train services, CCTV cameras are being installed at key railway stations and other sensitive locations across the country.
On Saturday, Abbasi also announced a compensation package of Rs 5.2 million for the families of the victims of the Jaffar Express attack and offered government jobs to their children within the Ministry of Railways.
In related news, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested a suspect on Monday for allegedly running an “anti-state campaign” on social media regarding the Jaffar Express attack. The suspect was taken into custody in Banigala, Islamabad, and later remanded for three days.
