KOHAT: A security guard was killed and a supervisor kidnapped in a terrorist attack on the installation of an oil exploration company in Thall Tehsil of Hangu district on Wednesday night.

       Saadat Khan, a senior police official, told Dawn that a nearby residential colony and several solar plates were damaged in the gun attack on MOL Pakistan’s installation.

       He identified the dead guard as Qabil Badshah and the kidnapped supervisor as Asmatullah.

       The counter-terrorism department has registered cases against the unknown attackers.

       “Police launched an operation to hunt for the terrorists soon after the attack. The operation was in progress late on Thursday night. But no clue has been found as yet about the terrorists due to difficult mountainous terrain,” the police official said.

       In a statement on Thursday, MOL Pakistan said a “security incident took place at one of our production wells in the Tal block in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa”.

       “The armed attack on the wellhead resulted in the loss of life of a security guard. Another official is missing.

       “MOL Pakistan expresses its deep sorrow over the loss of a precious life and extends its sympathies to the family of the deceased,” the statement said.

       Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2022