ISLAMABAD: A policeman and two militants were killed in a gunfight in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province on Monday, a police official said, in the latest incident of militant violence in the restive region.
The incident unfolded as the militants attacked a police vehicle in KP’s Bannu district, according to local police officer Qadir Khan.
The firefight took place near the Mirian police station.
“Terrorists ambushed the police party, leaving one police constable dead and forcing the rest to encircle them,” Khan told Arab News. “In the ensuing gunbattle, two terrorists were killed.”
Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which borders Afghanistan, has witnessed a number of attacks by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militant groups that targeted security forces convoys and check posts, besides targeted killings and kidnappings of law enforcers and government officials in recent months.
Last week, six Pakistani soldiers and 22 militants were killed in three separate gunfights in Tank, North Waziristan and Kurram districts of KP.
Pakistan has frequently accused neighboring Afghanistan of sheltering and supporting militant groups, urging the Taliban administration in Kabul to prevent its territory from being used by armed factions to launch cross-border attacks.
Afghan officials, however, deny involvement, insisting Pakistan’s security issues are an internal matter of Islamabad.
Policeman, two militants killed in gunfight in Pakistan’s restive northwest
https://arab.news/nan8g
Policeman, two militants killed in gunfight in Pakistan’s restive northwest
- Police official Qadir Khan says the militants attacked a police vehicle in KP’s Bannu district, leaving a constable dead
- Pakistan blames a surge in militancy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on militants operating out of Afghanistan, Kabul denies it
\Pakistan shortlists 10 bidders to compete for two new PSL franchises
- Pakistan Cricket Board says will hold auction for two new PSL franchises on Jan. 8 in Islamabad
- PSL is Pakistan’s premier T20 cricket tournament featuring a mix of local and international players
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced this week it has cleared 10 interested parties to bid for its two new Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises next month.
Pakistan will hold the 11th edition of the PSL next year from Mar. 26 to May 11, with two new franchises set to debut. The PCB held roadshows in New York and London this month to attract investors to buy the new franchises and invited interested parties to bid for the teams.
The PCB said earlier this week that 12 interested parties had bid for the two teams.
“Following a thorough and transparent evaluation process, the PCB Bid Committee has qualified 10 Bidders who have successfully met the technical criteria and now enter the second stage,” the board said in a statement on Saturday.
The PCB said these 10 bidders will now participate in the auction scheduled to be held on Thursday, Jan. 8 at the Jinnah Convention Center in Pakistan’s capital city, Islamabad.
It said there the franchise rights for the two new HBL PSL teams will be up for grabs.
“At the auction, the successful bidders will have the right to choose their franchise team names from among the following: Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Faisalabad, Gilgit, Muzaffarabad and Sialkot,” it said.
PSL CEO Salman Naseer congratulated the qualified bidders for clearing the process.
“The league looks forward to achieving another significant milestone in the expansion and evolution of the HBL PSL as we now prepare for the eagerly awaited auction,” he said.
The PSL is Pakistan’s premier T20 cricket league that features a mix of local and international players and coaches. It features six teams, each named after a Pakistani city.
With a little over 10 years since it was launched, the PSL has attracted praise from cricket experts and analysts worldwide and competed for viewership with prominent cricket leagues around the world such as the Big Bash League, Caribbean Premier League, Indian Premier League and others.
