DSP among four martyred in Lakki Marwat IED blast

Policemen were en route to Saddar police station, where their fellow cops were fending off terrorist attack

PESHAWAR:

At least four policemen – a deputy superintendent of police and three constables – were martyred in an improvised explosive device blast on the Pirwala Road in Lakki Marwat, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa police said on Thursday.

According to the police officials, the explosion occurred when the police personnel were en route to the Saddar police station, where the policemen were fending off a terrorist attack.

“As soon as the DSP received information about a terrorist attack, he, along with a heavy contingent, left for the Saddar police station. On the way near Pirwala turn, an IED blast occurred in which DSP Iqbal Mohmand as well as constables Ali Marjan, Waqar, and Karamatullah were martyred.”

The Lakki Marwat police officials said that terrorists opened fire at the Saddar police station in the wee hours of Thursday. Resultantly, an exchange of fire took place between the policemen and terrorists in which five cops were injured. The wounded identified as Head Constable Farooq Shah and constables Amanatullah, Asghar Ali, Gul Niaz and Arif were shifted to the Lakki City Hospital.

According to the police, the terrorists were equipped with advanced and heavy weaponry. Due to the swift and brave response from the policemen, the terrorists were forced to flee under the cover of darkness.

The outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement.

Later, the funerals of the martyred policemen were offered at the Malik Saad Shaheed Police Lines in Peshawar. The armed forces saluted the martyrs.

K-P Governor Haji Ghulam Ali, caretaker Chief Minister Muhammad Azam Khan, Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry and IGP Akhtar Hayat Khan, including senior military officials, as well as local people attended the funeral in large numbers.

The governor, CM, chief secretary and IGP laid floral wreaths on the coffins of the martyrs wrapped in the national flag.

The IGP paid tribute to the services of police martyrs for the police department, vowing that their blood would not go in vain.

The IGP assured the relatives of the martyr that the terrorists involved in this tragic incident would be exposed and brought to justice as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, talking to the media, the IGP said that the Lakki Marwat police was fighting against the terrorists and the police operations would continue till the end of terrorism.

The IGP said, “In spite of the challenges faced by the police, the Lakki police are performing their duties with their precious lives on the palm of their hands and responding to the call of duty in the middle of the night and reaching the crime scene is the highest example of duty and bravery of the police.”

In response to a question, the IGP said that police operations against terrorists were ongoing in the southern districts, especially the Dera Ismail Khan and Bannu divisions.

At night in Dera Ismail Khan, the police repulsed the attack of the terrorists by fighting bravely. The IGP said that the police force would not be intimidated by the cowardly tactics of the terrorists. “The Lakki Marwat police are fighting the terrorists and their bravery will be written in golden letters in the pages of history.”

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the incident, saying that the sacrifices of police officers in the war against terrorism were unforgettable and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured persons.

In a statement issued by the PM Office, Shehbaz paid homage to the martyred DSP and policemen, extending condolences to the bereaved families.

The PM said, “Police are performing magnificent duties against the terrorists as the first line of defence. Elimination of terrorism is a must for Pakistan’s survival and development.”