According to federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi, Jaffar Express will start running from today, state-owned Radio Pakistan said on Tuesday.
Following the terrorist attack on the Jaffar Express last week, Pakistan Railways (PR) suspended its whole operations from Punjab and Sindh to Balochistan and vice versa.
Tuesday afternoon, Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) terrorists ambushed the train headed for Peshawar carrying 440 passengers, opening fire and kidnapping captives. The security authorities so started a two-day operation.
Inter-services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry reported on Wednesday night that the operation had ended with 33 terrorists dead. While no hostages were injured during the last rescue phase, the ISPR head also mentioned that 26 hostages—including 18 security guards—lost their lives. During the operation, five more security officials perished.
The railways minister told reporters outside the Parliament House in Islamabad that drone monitoring will start for train operations in Balochistan, Radio Pakistan claimed.
“The service had been suspended following damage to the railway track in a recent attack but has now been totally restored,” he said.
Radio Pakistan also reported that CCTV cameras are being placed at railway stations and other important sites all throughout the nation to enhance security.
Along with positions for their children in his ministry, Abbasi earlier on Saturday offered a compensation package of Rs5.2 million for the families of the Jaffar Express train attack victims.
Later produced before a judge, the Federal Investigation Agency on Monday also arrested a suspect engaged in an alleged “anti-state campaign” on social media over the Jaffar Express attack from Banigala on the outskirts of Islamabad and he was later ordered on a physical remand for three days.
