Cop martyred as suicide bomber hits Islamabad

Six others injured in car explosion in I-10 sector; K-P deputy speaker escapes assassination attempt in Peshawar

ISLAMABAD:

 

A policeman was martyred and at least six others—including four policemen—sustained injuries in a car bombing in Islamabad on Friday, the first suicide attack in the federal capital in more than eight years, police officials and witnesses said.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Sohail Zafar Chattha said the police spotted a "suspicious vehicle" in the I-10/4 sector at around 10:15am with a man and a woman inside. He added that the vehicle was stopped by the Eagle Squad.

“The two came out of the vehicle. The man with long hair, while being checked by the officers, went inside the vehicle for some reason, and detonated himself," DIG Chattha said. “As a result, a police officer from the Eagle Squad was martyred and four others were injured in the incident.”

The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) police identified the martyred policeman as Head Constable Adeel Hussain.

"Timely action by the ICT saved the city from a terrorist attack," the police said on its official Twitter handle. Later, they clarified that both the attackers in the vehicle were males.

“Today's suicide attack was foiled due to the timely information from various intelligence agencies and Special Branch,” the police later said in a tweet. “The terrorists wanted to explode in a densely populated area to attack the police and public,” they said, adding that the timely police action saved the city from a major attack.

“Post-mortem and other investigations did not find any evidence of the presence of a woman in the car,” they added. “It is possible that the driver or the assailant had wrapped himself in a Chaddur, which might have been taken as the presence of a woman.”

The bombing, claimed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), took place near the police headquarters on the main road leading to government buildings housing parliament and other high offices.

It was the first suicide attack in Islamabad since the courthouse bombing in 2014 that killed 10 people.

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said that the bombers were after some “high-value” targets. “This morning, an explosives-laden vehicle entered Islamabad from Rawalpindi, carrying a male and a female terrorist. The vehicle was dispatched to hit ‘high-value targets' in Islamabad,” Sanaullah said in a statement.

“The Eagle Squad stopped the vehicle, considering it suspicious, that later exploded. One police officer was martyred and six were injured. Due to the conscientiousness of the police, Islamabad was saved from a major accident.”

Paying rich tributes to the Islamabad police, the minister announced Shuhada package for the family of martyred Adeel Hussain. He also announced the award of Tamgha-e-Shujaat (medal of bravery) for the martyred policeman posthumously.

“Adeel Hussain gave his life in an attempt to save the federal capital from a major terrorist attack. Adeel Hussain's great sacrifice will be recognised at the state level and it has been decided to give him this honour,” he added.

Under the Shuhada package, the minister said that the widow of the slain cop would be given employment in the police department, besides, a residential plot and Rs1.65 million in cash; the family would receive full salary of the martyred cop until the date of his retirement, and all the expenses on the education of his children would borne by the government.

Islamabad on alert

Sanaullah also said that the capital was already on high alert due to threats of such an attack. However, the police later said that security measures were being stepped up in the capital city in the wake of the suicide bombing.

“Due to the bomb blast incident, diversions [have been] placed on both sides for traffic on Service Road East of I-10/4. Citizens are advised to use Service Road West of I-10/4 as [an] alternate,” the Islamabad police said on their official Twitter handle. They added that the Islamabad police chief had issued the security red alert in the city.

Crackdown against “applied-for [registration] and unspecified number plates” had been ordered, the police announced.

“No person will be allowed to carry arms,” the police said, advising the people to carry their necessary identity documents while travelling.

Attack widely condemned

The politicians belonging to both sides of the divide condemned the suicide attack in one voice. They also praised the bravery of the policemen for putting themselves in harm’s way in order to prevent a major disaster in the city.
“Law enforcement’s timely intervention averted a bloodbath,” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said.

“We will rid our country of all such elements who are the enemies of Pakistan and murderers of innocent people,” the prime minister said in a statement.
Shehbaz added that the nation would continue the war against terrorism.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan condemned the suicide terrorist attack.

“Salute the brave police officer who was martyred saving lives and greater destruction,” he tweeted. “The law and order situation is deteriorating rapidly across the country reflecting total failure of the imported government and intelligence agencies.”

Among those who condemned the attack and sent their condolences to the family of the martyred policeman, included Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, senior PTI leader Asad Umar, Awami National Party chief Asfandyar Wali and others.

“The Islamabad Capital Police is grateful to all the political leaders, media, social circles, business community and citizens who paid tribute to this great martyr Adeel Hussain,” the police said. “Salute of the nation to the martyrs and wounded men.”

The funeral for the martyred Head Constable Adeel Hussain was held at the Islamabad Police Lines in the evening. It was attended by high police and district administration officials. Later, his body was sent to his ancestral village for burial with full police honours.

Peshawar shooting

Separately, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Assembly Deputy Speaker Mahmood Jan remained unhurt after shots were fired at him in Peshawar's Shagai area, where he was attending an event on Friday. The police swarmed the area after the shooting and started a search operation.

"The motive of the attack has not yet been ascertained," Peshawar’s Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations Kashif Abbasi said. He added that attempts were being made to arrest the suspects.