KOHAT/WANA: Seven people, including five policemen, one of them a deputy superintendent of police and two civilians, were martyred while three cops sustained injuries when militants attacked a police van on the Shakardarra Road here on Tuesday, officials said.
Besides three policemen were also martyred in attacks in Wana and Bhakkar. The terrorists also blew up a government school in the Azam Warsak area in South Waziristan.
According to District Police Officer (DPO), Kohat, Shehbaz Elahi, the militants opened indiscriminate fire on a police vehicle in the Shakardarra area, targeting the personnel on board. He said DSP Lachi Asad Mehmood was among the martyred police officials. The other cops were identified as Sub-Inspector Anar Gul, police reader Wahab Ali, driver Mudassar and Constable Aamir Abbas. Two civilians, including Yousaf Khan, son of Yaqoob Khan, a resident of Khawasi Banda, also embraced martyrdom in the attack.
Four people, including three cops identified as Mohibullah, Aqib Hussain and Ahmad Abbas, sustained injuries in the attack. A civilian, Zahoor Khan, was also injured and was taken to a nearby hospital alongside the rest of them. The DPO said the attackers also set the police mobile on fire before fleeing the scene. Authorities said a large number of militants belonging to the group were reportedly seen in the area. The area was cordoned off and a search operation was launched, while snap checking was intensified to arrest the attackers.
In the aftermath of the incident, security was put on high alert and contingents of police rushed to the site. Funeral prayers for the martyred personnel were offered at the New Police Lines in Kohat, attended by Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed, Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, Kohat DPO Shehbaz Elahi, Pakistan Army officials and relatives of the fallen cops. A commander of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban identified as Abdullah, claimed responsibility for the attack.
Meanwhile, a police constable, Attaullah, was martyred when unidentified gunmen opened fire near Naik Muhammad Madrassa (Darul Uloom Wana) in Mughalkhel village, located in Wana, the district headquarters of Lower South Waziristan. Eyewitnesses said the assailants fled immediately after the shooting. Security forces swiftly cordoned off the area and launched a search operation. Checkpoints at all entry and exit routes were placed on high alert as authorities began efforts to trace and arrest the perpetrators. An investigation into the incident is currently underway.
In a similar incident at Azam Warsak in South Waziristan, terrorists destroyed a government school. According to initial reports, explosives were used to demolish the school building, leaving the structure completely destroyed and unusable. No casualties were reported. Local elders and parents condemned the attack, urging authorities to ensure the immediate arrest of those involved and to provide foolproof security for schools to safeguard students.
In Bhakkar, two policemen were martyred in a terrorist suicide attack on the Dajal check-post. According to DPO Shahzad Rafique Awan, two policemen, Faheem and Shahbaz, were martyred in the attack. The check-post of Punjab Police, located on the river bridge connecting Punjab with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, was attacked at Iftar. A policeman was also injured in the attack.
District Police Officer Bhakkar Shehzad Rafiq Awan reached the scene along with a police contingent and supervised the rescue operations. The area has been cordoned off and a search operation is under way, while the crime scene unit is collecting evidence.
President Asif Ali Zardari strongly denounced the terrorist attack, expressing deep sorrow over the loss of officials’ lives and extended condolences to the affected families. In his statement, the president also prayed for the early recovery of police personnel who were injured in the incident.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz likewise condemned the assault on the police check-post. She paid homage to the martyred policemen and praised their sacrifice in the line of duty. The chief minister conveyed heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved families and directed the authorities to provide the best available medical care to the injured policeman and others wounded in the attack.
In his reaction, IG Punjab paid tribute to the sacrifice of the martyred policemen and expressed sympathy and condolences to the bereaved families.
