Punjab Police gunned down Bilal Khosa alias Bashir, a most-wanted Khawarij linked with the proscribed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), during a fierce late-night exchange of fire in the jurisdiction of Kala Police Station, Dera Ghazi Khan, the Punjab Police spokesperson confirmed on Sunday.
According to the spokesperson, a police patrol was conducting routine surveillance when it came under sudden and indiscriminate fire from armed assailants concealed in nearby bushes. The police responded with tactical precision, securing safe positions and launching a swift counteroffensive.
One attacker was neutralized in the ensuing gun battle and later identified as Bilal Khosa, also known as Bashir — a high-value Khawarij operative wanted for a series of heinous crimes. His accomplices fled the scene under the cover of darkness, prompting a large-scale search operation to track them down.
The slain Khawarij was on the most-wanted list for his involvement in attempted murder, armed robbery, highway robbery, terrorism, and double homicide. He was also formally nominated in two cases registered by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and had long evaded arrest.
Intelligence reports revealed that Bilal Khosa was an active member of the TTP — a declared Khawarij outfit — and had been orchestrating armed campaigns against state institutions. He was reportedly plotting to unleash unrest and destabilize peace in the Dera Ghazi Khan region.
Inspector General Punjab Police Dr. Usman Anwar lauded the Dera Ghazi Khan police for their bravery and professional excellence, stating: “Sending this Khawarij to hell is a message to all enemies of the state — we will root out every last one of them. There is no room for anarchists who challenge the writ of Pakistan.”
