“Kundal Punjab Highway Patrolling Post, in a daring operation assisted by the Counter Terrorism Department Punjab, successfully thwarted an attack by 12 to 15 terrorists last night at approximately 23:45 hours,” a statement issued by Punjab police chief Usman Anwar was quoted as saying by Dawn News.

According to the statement, Head Constable Haroon embraced martyrdom during the operation — which concluded after 7am — while multiple terrorists sustained injuries. “Following a thorough area search conducted by the CTD personnel, two terrorist bodies were discovered,” it added.

“One of the terrorists has been positively identified as Zubair Nawaz, brother of Arshad Nawaz, the Ameer of the Tehreek-Taliban Tipu Group of Lakki Marwat, with the aid of a comprehensive database and local intelligence,” the statement said.

It added that Nawaz was a “high priority individual on the most wanted lists in both Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces due to his involvement in the killing of police officers, Shia community member, dacoities and extortion activities”.