The Punjab police announced on Friday that the main suspect behind the deadly rocket attack on police officers in Rahim Yar Khan’s Machka area has been killed in a retaliatory operation.
The tragic incident, which occurred in the riverine katcha area, led to the martyrdom of 12 police officers. This region, notorious for its organized criminal gangs, has been a longstanding hotspot for kidnap-for-ransom operations, with such activities prevalent in the riverine border areas of southern Sindh and central Punjab for decades.
Police sources revealed that around two dozen police personnel were deployed at Machka Camp 2 in the riverine area. As they were returning to Rahim Yar Khan in two police mobile vans for a weekly holiday, one of their vehicles broke down due to stagnant floodwater in the area. The policemen, trapped in the rainwater, became easy targets for the riverine dacoits, who fired rockets at the police party, resulting in the death of 15 officers. Two policemen sustained injuries, while four others were reported missing.
Punjab Inspector General Dr. Usman Anwar confirmed to local media that a coordinated operation had been launched by both Punjab and Sindh police forces, with 320 personnel from Punjab and additional forces from Sindh actively participating.
In a post on X, the Punjab police confirmed the death of the main suspect, Bashir Shar, in a retaliatory action following the attack. “The main suspect who led the assault on our officers, Bashir Shar, has met his fate,” the police statement read. The operation also resulted in injuries to five of Shar’s accomplices: Sanaullah Shar, Gada Ali, Kamlu Shar, Ramzan Shar, and Gadi.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz directed IG Anwar and senior officials to oversee the ongoing operation in Rahim Yar Khan. Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah instructed his provincial police chief to collaborate closely with Punjab authorities and provide any necessary support.
CM Maryam also ordered the Punjab home secretary to initiate an immediate operation in the Katcha areas, with the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) Punjab leading the effort, according to a statement from her party, PML-N.
The attack marks a significant escalation in violence in the region, prompting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to call for “immediate and effective action” against those responsible.
