ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has felicitated the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) for carrying out a brilliant operation that resulted in the arrest of the leader of Baloch National Army (BNA). In a tweet on Saturday, he said this operation speaks of outstanding professionalism of our institutions. He said the arrest will help suppress militancy in Balochistan and usher in a new era of peace.

A statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Friday had said the leader and founder of the banned Baloch National Army (BNA), Gulzar Imam alias Shambay, was arrested in a high-profile intelligence-based operation by the security forces. The ‘high-value target’ has been a “hardcore militant as well as founder and leader of the banned outfit Baloch National Army (BNA) which came into being after the amalgamation of Baloch Republican Army (BRA) and United Baloch Army (UBA)”, the ISPR had said.

Gulzar also remained as “deputy to Brahamdagh Bugti in Baloch Republican Army (BRA) till 2018 and was instrumental in the formation of Baloch Raji Aajoi Sangar (BRAS) and remained its operational head”, the ISPR had said.