Pakistani security forces  are involved in gunfight with Al Qaeda militants in country’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s home town Raiwind in Punjab province.

Islamabad, July 17/Nationalturk – Pakistani police and security men are battling against Al Qaeda militants holed up in a house in country’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s home town Raiwind in Punjab province.

“In the wee hours today, police and security men laid siege around a house in  Arayian village on Raiwind Road, a town in the outskirts of Lahore on a tip-off regarding the presence of local and foreign militants there,” a police official said.

He said the  militants  present in a house fired on the security men when they were encircling the house.

“The fire was returned by the security men triggering an encounter, which was going on. The militants lobbed grenades and fired at least three rockets towards the positions of security forces,” the official said.

‘Siege tightened to prevent militants from escaping’

The official said additional security men have been rushed to the area to tighten the siege and prevent militants from escaping from the area.

“We have information  that local and foreign militants affiliated with Al Qaeda are holed in the house,” he said.

He said a policeman was killed and five others injured in the gunfight so far.

Unconfirmed reports said that seven militants have been killed in the firefight so far.

“The exact figure of militants present the house could not be established,” officials said adding all the roads leading to the area where the militants are hiding have been blocked and area is cordoned off.

The locals said the building was taken on rent by a person few months back.

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has his residence in Raiwind.

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Asia News / NationalTurk Pakistan News