DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Two police personnel were martyred and two others injured on Monday in a suspected improvised explosive device (IED) attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Tank district, according to police sources.
Police sources told Dawn that the suspected IED targeted an armoured personnel carrier (APC) while it was on routine patrol on the Tank-Jandola Road within the jurisdiction of Shaheed Mureed Akbar Police Station. Initial reports suggested the explosive device had been planted along the roadside and was detonated as the APC passed through the area.
Assistant Sub-Inspector Fareedullah and Constable Akhtar Zaman embraced martyrdom in the attack, while Constables Abdul Malik and Qudratullah sustained injuries. The wounded officers were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital for treatment.
Following the explosion, police and security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation. Investigators also began collecting evidence from the scene as authorities initiated an inquiry to determine the circumstances of the attack and identify those responsible.
In the aftermath of the incident, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi sought a report from the relevant authorities, according to a statement issued by the Governor’s House. He paid tribute to the martyred policemen, describing their sacrifices in the fight against terrorism as a source of pride for the nation.
The governor expressed condolences to the bereaved families and reaffirmed that such attacks would not weaken the country’s resolve against terrorism. He also directed authorities to ensure the best possible medical treatment for the injured personnel and called for a comprehensive investigation to bring those responsible to justice.
President Asif Ali Zardari also condemned the attack, according to a statement issued by the Presidency. He paid tribute to the martyred officers, expressed sympathy with their families, and said police and other law enforcement personnel were making unforgettable sacrifices for peace in the country.
“The entire nation salutes them,” the president said, adding that the nefarious designs of terrorists operating under foreign patronage would be defeated.
The latest attack comes amid a series of assaults targeting police personnel in Tank district. Last week, Elite Force Constable Ziaullah Bhittani was martyred after unidentified gunmen opened fire on him in broad daylight near Sahib Jan Serai, close to the Durand Gate police post, before fleeing the scene.
Earlier, on June 20, Constable Fidaullah was injured when unidentified attackers hurled a grenade at a police checkpost near a shrine in Tank. The grenade exploded inside the checkpost premises, injuring the officer.
On May 10, Head Constable Jan Alam embraced martyrdom after unidentified assailants opened fire on him. In March, another head constable, Uzair Khan, was shot dead while sitting at a shop in the Gali Dak Khana area of Tank’s main bazaar.
According to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), Pakistan’s security situation deteriorated sharply in May after showing improvement for two consecutive months. The think tank attributed the worsening security environment primarily to escalating terrorist violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.