Three policemen, including an assistant sub-inspector (ASI), were martyred in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast targeting a police vehicle in Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on Wednesday.
District police spokesperson Yaqoob Zulqarnain said Sunrise that an improvised explosive device was used in the blast that took place in Paniyala area, which falls under the jurisdiction of Shaheed Nawab Khan Police Station.
ASI Gul Alam, Constable Rafiq and the driver of the mobile van, Sakhi Jan, were killed in the incident, the police spokesperson said, adding that another officer accompanying them, Azad Shah, was unharmed.
He said the scene of the incident was cordoned off and a search operation was launched.
“The police are searching for the attackers and the matter is being investigated from all angles,” he said.
Paniyala deputy superintendent of police and station house officer as well as district police officer (DPO) also reached the blast site after the incident, according to the police spokesperson.
Separately, a statement issued by the office of DI Khan DPO Sajjad Ahmad Sahibzada said the attack was carried out by “unidentified terrorists”.
The statement said the DPO also spoke to the media and said, “The terrorists have carried out a cowardly attack. Such acts cannot weaken the morale of the police.”
Later, an official statement issued by DI Khan police said that the DPO reviewed the evidence collected at the site. He was briefed by Saddar Superintendent of Police (SP) Muahammad Nawab Khan, Paharpur Syed Asad Ali Shah and bomb disposal unit DI Khan in-charge Inayatullah briefed the DPO about the initial investigation, nature of the attack and evidence collected till then.
Outlining the details of the search and raid operation being carried out in the area, the statement said that it is being carried out by police personnel, Alburq force, elite force and bomb disposal teams.
Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in some areas, he added.
In a subsequent statement issued around 4:30, police said two terrorists had been killed during the ongoing search and strike operation.
“For a long time an intense exchange of fire took place between the police and the terrorists,” the statement said, adding that two terrorists from “Fitna-al-Khawarij”had been killed while there were reports that two others were injured.
Convictions
administered by the state APPLICATION reported that KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi strongly condemned the blast and expressed deep sorrow and grief over the martyrdom of three policemen in the attack.
The statement issued by the CM’s Secretariat and carried by APPLICATION quoted Afridi as saying that the three martyred police officers had “given their lives for the nation”.
According to the statement, the CM highlighted that the police had been “bravely fighting terrorism on the frontline” despite limited resources.
He called today’s attack a “cowardly act” and said such incidents could not weaken the nation’s resolve.
The statement said CM Afridi assured that the provincial government “stands firm with its brave police force and salutes their great sacrifices.”
“He promised that the sacrifices of the martyrs would not be in vain and that the terrorists involved would be brought to justice.”
He further quoted the CM as saying that “the fight against terrorism will continue with even greater determination and with full force.”
He prayed for the martyred police officers and expressed solidarity with the bereaved families, assuring that the KP government would provide them with all possible support.
A statement issued by KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi’s office said he strongly condemned the attack, calling it a “cowardly and brutal act.”
Governor Kundi expressed grief over the martyrdom of three police officers in the incident, paid tribute to them and termed them as “heroes of the nation”, the statement said.
He extended his condolences to their families and expressed his solidarity with them, the statement added.
He further quoted the governor as saying: “Their (martyrs’) sacrifices will always be remembered.
“The sacrifices of the police and security forces will not go in vain, and the fight for peace in the province will continue at all costs. These cowardly attacks cannot weaken the strong and unwavering resolve of the nation against terrorism. The people and institutions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are united for the elimination of the menace of terrorism,” he said.
state broadcaster Radio PakistanMeanwhile, he reported that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also condemned the attack and expressed “deep regret and sorrow” over the martyrdom of the three policemen.
The prime minister prayed for the martyrs and expressed his condolences to their families, the Radio Pakistan According to the report, the prime minister also ordered that “those responsible for the incident be identified and brought to justice.”
He paid tribute to the “great sacrifices of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police in the fight against terrorism” and reaffirmed “the unwavering commitment to eradicate the menace of terrorism”.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also strongly denounced the attack. APPLICATION reported.
“The bravery and sacrifice of the brave sons of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police are commendable,” he said. Naqvi said that “the sacrifices of the martyrs will always be remembered.”
“We hold the sacrifices of the KP police in the highest regard,” he added.
There have been several incidents of attacks on law enforcement officers in recent months in KP, as Pakistan continues to grapple with the issue of terrorism.
The country has witnessed an increase in terrorist activitiesespecially in KP and Balochistan, after the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) term his ceasefire with the government in November 2022 and vowed to attack security forces, police and law enforcement personnel.
Today’s attack on police comes approximately two weeks after the bomb attack on a police mobile in DI Khan on November 20. Two policemen were martyred and four were injured in the incident.
In October, terrorists also attacked the Police Training College in DI Khan. Six police officers, including students, were martyred and 13 others (12 police officers and one civilian) were injured in the terror attack. The army’s media wing said five terrorists were killed in the security forces’ retaliation operation.
A police checkpoint was also attacked from multiple sides by terrorists late on the night of October 8. A police officer was martyred in the incident.
