Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar has praised the swift response of security forces for preventing what could have been a catastrophic attack on the Jaffar Express, comparing it to the tragic Army Public School (APS) attack in Peshawar. Speaking to the media outside the court, Gohar emphasized that the timely actions of the forces were crucial in avoiding a disaster of similar scale to the APS tragedy.
He lauded the forces for successfully averting further destruction and thanked them for their vital role in safeguarding the lives of countless individuals. Gohar’s comments come after reports from Express News highlighted the heroic efforts of the security teams.
In addition to his praise for the military’s actions, Gohar also discussed PTI’s ongoing efforts to engage in talks with the government. He revealed that PTI formed a committee in December to open negotiations, holding several rounds of meetings through January. Gohar further stated that PTI had submitted two written demands after the government requested them but criticized the government for failing to act on these opportunities for dialogue.
Turning to the situation of PTI founder Imran Khan, Gohar condemned the government’s actions, stating that no one had been allowed to meet him for six months, despite court orders. He called this a clear violation of human rights.
Gohar also commented on recent remarks by Pakistan’s military, praising the Director-General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) for his clear and informative press conference. The DG’s statements addressed recent terrorist activities, including the attack on the Jaffar Express, and underscored the importance of security forces in preventing further tragedies.
Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif of ISPR, speaking on the attack, accused India of being the primary sponsor of terrorism in Balochistan. He pointed out that Indian media outlets had spread misinformation about the attack, with some even circulating AI-generated videos. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack on the Jaffar Express, which occurred in the Dhadar region of the Bolan Pass. Militants held over 400 passengers hostage, but security forces successfully rescued them and neutralized the attackers.
The attack began when militants used an improvised explosive device (IED) to halt the train at around 1 pm. Prior to this, militants had attacked a Frontier Corps (FC) checkpoint, killing three soldiers. The situation escalated when the BLA militants, stationed in various groups, took the passengers hostage, separating women and children.
A rescue operation was launched on March 12, with security forces surrounding the militants’ positions and engaging in a firefight. Remarkably, not a single hostage was killed during the operation, which is being hailed as one of the most successful counter-terrorism missions in recent history. DG ISPR described it as the most successful hostage rescue operation globally, given the challenging terrain and the presence of suicide bombers. The operation was executed with precision, minimizing casualties and ensuring the safety of all hostages.
