Drive-by attack: Militants kill elite force superintendent in Swabi

SWABI/ PESHAWAR/ DI KHAN:

A superintendent of the elite police force in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa was gunned down in a drive-by shooting in Swabi on Eid day while three suicide bombers were killed and a police constable was martyred in clashes in Dera Ismail Khan.

Major (retd) Khairul Haseeb was shot dead by militants associated with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan in the Salim Khan village of Swabi on Saturday morning. The assailants managed to flee unharmed.



The victim was attacked near his house while heading home after offering prayers. He died on the spot and was shifted to the DHQ Swabi. An autopsy could not be performed since many hospital officials were not present on duty.

The deceased has left behind a wife, four daughters and two sons. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemned the incidents and offered condolences to the officer’s family.

3 suicide bombers killed

In Dera Ismail Khan, a militant commander was killed while a police constable embraced martyrdom in a fierce clash between terrorists and security forces.

The gunfight erupted in the Daraban area after two suicide bombers rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a security forces’ camp late Sunday night. Personnel of the Quick Response Force rushed to the site after the attack.

District Police Officer Sadiq Hussain Baloch told reporters that around seven militants opened fire on the force’s armoured personnel carrier (APC) on the way to the camp.

In the ensuing gun battle, a militant commander identified as Amin Jan alias Malang of Tehreek-e-Taliban Gandapur was killed. Constable Amin Nawaz also laid down his life in the line of duty.

Baloch said the slain commander was wanted in 23 cases of terrorism and was the third most-wanted terrorist on the list with a bounty of Rs1.5 million on his head.

Another suicide bomber blew himself up to avoid arrest after a police party chased him in the Kolachi Morr area of DI Khan.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 21^st, 2015.