The senior army commanders visited the families of eight martyred customs officials in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and paid homage to the fallen heroes, ISPR said on Thursday.

The customs officials laid their lives in the line of duty in the Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province earlier in the ongoing month.

In due recognition of this selfless sacrifice and a show of solidarity with the bereaved families, senior commanders visited their hometowns, the ISPR said, adding they pledged unflinching support on behalf of the COAS.

The families expressed their gratitude to the army for their support and respect.

Paying homage to heroes, they said: “Shuhadas and Ghazis are our pride and their respect and honour is binding on each Pakistani.

“We must never forget that the peace and freedom we enjoy today is due to the ultimate sacrifices rendered by these brave sons of the soil.

“We as a nation salute the families sacrificing their loved ones for Pakistan.”