No Taliban foothold in K-P, insists top cop

Yet another cop dies in Peshawar ambush

PESHAWAR:

IGP Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Moazam Jah Ansari has described as baseless the impression that militancy has found a firm foothold in the province.

He said that the K-P has been in the grip of terrorism for the past 20 years and the war is still ongoing. Nevertheless, the situation is not critical, he stressed.

“We are ready to face any emerging threat,” he said, adding that the police are investigating the incident in which PTI MPA Liaqat Ali was attacked and several suspects had been arrested.

He added that geo-fencing of the area had been completed.

About the much discussed Swat incident, IGP said that they have information about the movement of militants in Swat’s mountains.

“Militants were said to have reached Swat from Afghanistan following which police was dispatched to the area to verify the matter with other law enforcement agencies and they came into contact with the militants,” he said, adding that an exchange of fire took place between militants and police in which a police officer was slightly injured.

“Several terrorists were also injured,” he noted.

The IGP said that there was no extraordinary situation in K-P’s tribal districts and the morale of police was high as it has achieved great success against terrorists.

Attack at police

An assistant sub-inspector of police was killed when unidentified terrorists opened fire at him on the outskirts of Peshawar last night.

Police said that ASI Rekhmeen Khan of Regi police station was on a routine patrol in the area in a police mobile van when the vehicle was ambushed by armed men.

“The ASI was left seriously injured who was rushed to hospital but he had succumbed to his injuries before reaching the health facility,” said the official.

A large contingent of police reached the spot and started a door to door search operation during which several people were rounded up on suspicion.

An investigation team has also been formed to look into the case from all aspects.

The last rites of the slain policeman were offered at Malik Saad Shaheed Police Lines with full guard of honour.

Talking to media men CCPO Peshawar Ijaz Khan said that soon the culprits behind the attack would be found and brought to justice.

Later the coffin of the martyred policeman was sent to his ancestral village in Jamrud for burial.

It may be recalled that just two days before the Peshawar attack a police constable was shot dead in North Waziristan tribal district.

Constable Ikramullah was on his way home from bazaar when masked men attacked him. He died on the spot.

Police took the body into custody and sent it for autopsy.

The target killing occurred at a time when the Otmanzai clan has been protesting against such attacks for the past one month.

They are demanding strict measures and crackdown against those responsible for the law and order situation in the district.

These clans held several rounds of negotiations with the district administration but all in vain.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 12^th, 2022.