13 martyred in DI Khan checkpoint suicide blast

Women, a child, Customs inspector among dead 2 rescue personnel carrying injured also martyred Security tightene

DERA ISMAIL KHAN:

A suicide bomber struck a joint Customs, police and Excise checkpoint in Darazinda tehsil of Dera Ismail Khan on the inter-provincial highway on Saturday, killing 13 people, including two women, a young girl and a Customs inspector, while 26 others were reported injured.

The attack was followed by separate assaults on those responding to the blast. A police Quick Response Force vehicle heading to the site was targeted, injuring a policeman, while armed assailants later opened fire on a Rescue 1122 ambulance carrying the injured to Dera Ismail Khan, killing two rescuers and wounding another.

According to sources, the suicide bomber targeted the joint checkpoint established on the inter-provincial highway in Darazinda, triggering a powerful explosion.

Two women and a minor girl were among the 13 people died in the blast. A Customs inspector was also among the dead.

The explosion spread fear and panic in the area. Security agencies and rescue teams immediately reached the scene and began relief and rescue operations.

The area was cordoned off after the blast, while authorities also began collecting evidence from the site.

According to sources, a police Quick Response Force vehicle heading towards the scene after receiving information about the attack was also targeted. A police official identified as Zohaib was injured in the attack.

In a separate incident, armed men opened fire on a Rescue 1122 ambulance transporting the injured to hospitals in Dera Ismail Khan.

The firing killed the Rescue 1122 driver and another member of the rescue staff, while one additional Rescue 1122 official was wounded.

Following the attacks, security was further tightened in Darazinda and surrounding areas.

Law-enforcement agencies have launched an investigation into the motive for the attacks and the identities of those involved.

Authorities were also working to establish the identities of those killed and compile further details of the incident, while the injured were receiving medical treatment.

PM, president condemn

Condemning the terrorist attack in a statement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow and grief over the loss of precious human lives in the blast.

He expressed heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the families of the martyrs and prayed for speedy recovery of the injured.

"We will never let the sacrifices of the nation's protectors go in vain in the war against terrorism," he said, adding that the government was determined to completely eradicate terrorism from the country.

President Asif Ali Zardari also strongly condemned the bomb blast.

In a statement, he expressed deep sorrow and grief over the loss of innocent precious lives in the blast.

The president expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families of the martyrs, praying that Allah Almighty bless the departed souls with the highest ranks and grant patience and strength to the bereaved families.

He also prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the blast.

The president directed the concerned institutions to provide the best medical facilities to the injured and make the relief operations more effective.

Targeting innocent citizens and law enforcement officials in incidents of terrorism was highly condemnable, he added.

He said operations against Fitna al-Hindustan and Fitna al-Khawarij terrorists, who were committing heinous and brutal acts under foreign patronage, should be made more effective.