Army lieutenant colonel martyred in Dera Ismail Khan shooting

Army Lieutenant Colonel Imran Dayal was martyred in a shooting incident in Dera Ismail Khan on Wednesday, Assistant Sub-Inspector Sibtain of Saddar Police Station confirmed to The Express Tribune.

According to a statement from security sources, the officer was shot dead at around 2pm in the Shor Kot area of the district. Initial investigations indicate the killing was neither the result of targeted violence nor linked to a personal feud.

"Preliminary information suggests the officer was hit during an exchange of fire between two armed groups. The incident appears to have stemmed from a sudden dispute or a shooting involving private armed guards, and the officer was caught in the crossfire," it added.

Meanwhile, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has sought a report from senior officials following a the incident, according to an official statement. He described the killing of Colonel Imran on the Dera-Bannu Road as “tragic”.

He said the death had left him deeply saddened. Kundi paid tribute to the officer, saying: “Today, another son of Dera has attained the status of martyrdom for the sake of the country.”

The statement said senior officials briefed the governor on “immediate action” taken in response to the incident. Kundi also expressed condolences to the officer’s family and colleagues.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Secretary General Mohammad Humayun Khan expressed grief over the killing of Colonel Imran in a shooting incident on the Dera-Bannu Road.

“Colonel Imran’s martyrdom is a heart-wrenching tragedy that has plunged the entire nation into mourning,” Humayun Khan said in a statement.

He said he was praying for the elevation of the officer’s ranks and for patience for the bereaved family. Humayun Khan said the PPP stood with the officer’s family in what he described as a difficult moment.

“Those who lay down their lives for the homeland are the pride of the entire nation,” he said. Humayun said the sacrifices of Colonel Imran were a guarantee of the country’s freedom, security and a safer future.