LONDON: Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) president and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday said that the martyred army officials in North Waziristan are the pride of Pakistani nation. 

Second Lieutenant Abdul Moeed and Sepoy Basharat were martyred after terrorists fired on their vehicle from the surrounding mountains on Monday, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

"Martyrs like Moeed and Basharat are the pride of the Pakistani nation," Sharif said in a statement issued late Tuesday. "The sons of soil have joined the proud ranks of martyrs who have laid their lives for the country." 

He said that the entire nation is indebted to the families of the martyrs.

"The martyrdom of Moeed and Basharat is proof of the fact that our soldiers and officers outdo their peers when it comes to laying down their lives for the country."

The PML-N president paid homage to the martyrs and extended his sympathies to the bereaved families. 

Two army officials martyred in North Waziristan attack

2nd Lt Abdul Moeed and Sepoy Basharat's vehicle was attacked by terrorists

Sepoy Basharat, 21, was from Danyor village of Gilgit-Baltistan while Moeed, also 21, hailed from Burewala, Vehari.

Moeed had recently graduated from the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA), Kakul, while Basharat had three years of military service, the ISPR statement added.

According to a message on Facebook from Moeed's cousin, the deceased belonged to the 136 Long Course of PMA and hailed from the 4 Northern Light Infantry unit