– Nine more militants were eliminated in the ongoing Operation Shaban in Balochistan, taking the number of militants killed in the operation to 52 and the total number of those killed since July 5, including those killed in intelligence-based operations (IBOs), to 88, security sources said.

Security sources claimed the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps (FC) and police were conducting synchronized air and ground operations against militant hideouts across Balochistan under the framework of Operation Shaban.

Officials stated the operation would continue until all the extremists involved were killed.

Balochistan govt issues report of attack on Mangi Dam check post

The operation was initiated in the Shaban area of Quetta district on July 5 after a devastating attack on the police post of the Mangi Dam pumping station in which 27 police men were slain.

During the attack, militants shot dead nine police officers, including two station house officers (SHO), and took 18 others hostage at gunpoint. The bodies of abducted people were eventually retrieved from mountainous terrain of Zarghoon Gar.

Former Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi has been selected as the brand ambassador of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Champions Cricket League (KCL) ahead of the league’s official start later this month.

The regional cricket league will officially kick off with the inaugural ceremony on July 18 at 6pm at Peshawar Cricket Stadium.

Afridi appealed to the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, especially the cricket lovers in Peshawar, to come out with their families to support the budding cricketers and to be part of the new cricket movement in the region.

The ceremony will also be attended by various past and present international cricketers including former Pakistan captain Younis Khan, who is the commissioner of the league.

The official dates of the tournament will be disclosed during the opening event, organisers added. Also announced will be details of the province-wide talent hunt trials, the league’s future activities and other big announcements.

The management of KCL has taken special measures for the convenience of the spectators, especially families and has allotted complimentary tickets for the supporters attending the launch event.

Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Saturday highlighted the relevance of Pakistan-UK bilateral relations.

The DPM/FM asked the High Commissioner designate to the UK to increase efforts to deepen and widen the collaboration between the two countries in the political, economic and people-to-people spheres.

In a news release, the Foreign Office Spokesperson said that High Commissioner-designate of Pakistan to the United Kingdom, Tipu Usman Chaudhry, called on the DPM/FM.