PESHAWAR/LAHORE/DERA GHAZI KHAN: Three policemen, including a senior officer, were killed in an attack on a station on the outskirts of Peshawar in the wee hours of Sunday while a head constable martyred and another sustained injuries during a gun attack on a Punjab Police post in border area of Taunsa area in DG Khan, the police confirmed both the incidents.
“A group of terrorists attacked Sarband police station at midnight from different sides,” Kashif Aftab Abbasi, senior superintendent of police operations, told reporters.
He added that three policemen, including a deputy superintendent of police (DSP), were killed while chasing the terrorists after the attack.
پشاور پولیس نے آدھی رات کو دہشتگردوں کے تھانہ سربند پر حملے کو پسپا بنادیا۔
دہشتگردوں کے تعاقب کے دوران ڈی ایس پی بڈھ بیر سردار حسین اور دو پولیس اہلکار کنسٹیبل ارشاد اور کنسٹیبل جہانزیب شہادت کے عظیم مرتبے پر فائز ہوگئے۔ pic.twitter.com/nYdXFs3INr
— KP Police (@KP_Police1) January 14, 2023
“Terrorists used grenades, sniper rifles, and automatic weapons in the attack, and apparently the DSP was targeted by a sniper,” he said.
The proscribed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan group, or TTP, claimed responsibility for the police station attack a day earlier and for killing the officers.
Police launched a search operation in the area to arrest the terrorists.
The TTP has waged an insurgency in Pakistan over the past 15 years, fighting for stricter enforcement of religious laws in the country, the release of their members who are in government custody and a reduction of military presence in the former tribal regions.
They also claimed responsibility for an attack Friday at a police checkpoint in the Taunsa district of Punjab that killed two officers.
CENTRAL GOVT DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT DETERIORATING LAW AND ORDER IN KP
Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan said the central government was deeply concerned about deteriorating law and order in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He criticised provincial authorities for failing to learn from previous assaults, including a militant takeover and hostage situation at a counter-terror department in the Bannu district.
“Terrorists are attacking police stations, policemen and officers are being targeted,” said Khan. “It seems that the provincial government has not learned any lesson even from Bannu CTD headquarters,” he said, referring to the counter-terror department that was seized by militants.
He claimed the provincial chief minister’s priority was politics not peace and, with even local police not safe from attacks, he asked what would happen to the safety of ordinary people.
During the last few months, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa bordering Afghanistan has again become a hotbed of militancy with increasing terrorist attacks launched by TTP. Last month, several policemen were killed in Afghanistan-based group-claimed attacks in Lakki Marwat, Dera Ismail Khan, and Bannu districts.
The recent attacks are the aftermath of rescinding a fragile cease-fire between security forces and the TTP, which could last only a few months. Both sides blame each other for the violation of the cease-fire.
ACCELERATE CRACKDOWN ON TERRORISTS AND CRIMINALS INVOLVED IN ATTACKS ON POLICE TEAMS
Inspector General Police Punjab Aamir Zulfiqar Khan directed to accelerate massive crackdown under zero tolerance against terrorists and criminals involved in attacks on police teams. He emphasized upon taking terrorists as well as their facilitators to their ultimate end. The IGP directed to increase the number of personnel at police check-posts in border area and expert snipers should also be deployed along with modern resources.
Punjab IG Police Aamir Zulfiqar issued the instructions while presiding over a high-level meeting at RPO office DG Khan. On the occasion, the IGP was informed about the preliminary investigation into terrorist attack on police-post in Taunsa Sharif. Additional IGs South Punjab, Special Branch, CTD, RPO DG Khan, DIG Operations Punjab, DPO DG Khan and other officers participated in the meeting.
The IGP ordered DIG Admin and Establishment South Punjab Muhammad Saleem to send detailed inquiry report of Taunsa Sharif incident to CPO within 24 hours. He said that there should be no delay in taking action against those responsible for negligence while conducting an inquiry from all aspects of the incident. He directed the Additional IG South Punjab should personally monitor the police operations in sensitive areas including Kacha area and reports of search and combing operations should be sent to the Central Police Office on a daily basis. The IG Police said that in order to further strengthen the rule of law in Kacha area, full-scale operations should be conducted against organized criminal gangs. Police teams should increase patrolling in sensitive areas while supervisory officers should monitor the operations themselves. Aamir Zulfiqar Khan directed that more resources, modern weapons and additional personnel will be provided to the police teams for the operation against the anti-social elements. He said that coordination and information sharing with Sindh and Balochistan police should be improved to end movement of criminals.
IGP, LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ATTENDED FUNERAL
Earlier, IG Punjab attended funeral prayer of Shaheed Head Constable Mazhar Iqbal at Police Lines DG Khan. He floral wreathe on the conffin of the martyr and recited Fatiha for higher ranks of martyr. IG Punjab paid tribute to eternal sacrifice of the martyr and said that the officers and officials of the department who embraced martyrdom are real gems of department and heroes of nation. The IG Police vowed to ensure provision of best welfare to families of martyrs.
A large number of citizens including police officers and officials, media representatives, lawyers, political and social personalities participated in the funeral prayer. After the funeral prayer, the body of the martyr was sent to his native village where he will be buried with full official honors.
Yesterday, head constable Mazhar Iqbal was martyred by firing of criminals on the police picket located on border of Punjab-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Shaheed Head Constable Mazhar Iqbal was survived by parents, wife and two children among the mourners.
NISHTAR HOSPITAL VISIT
Furthermore, IG Police Aamir Zulfiqar Khan visited Nishtar Hospital Multan where he enquired after the health of police official Mohammad Ramzan who was injured in the attack on Taunsa Sharif police post. The IGP inquired from doctors about the health of the injured and directed the provision of best medical facilities for the speedy recovery of the injured officer.
CTD NEUTRALIZES TWO TERRORISTS IN PESHAWAR
Meanwhile, The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), in a joint operation with local police, gunned down two terrorists near Shinwari fort area in Peshawar on Saturday.
According to CTD spokesman, following the attack on Sarband police station, a joint operation was conducted by CTD and local police in Sarband Shinwari fort on an intelligence tip-off, wherein two alleged terrorists were killed.
The spokesperson noted that the accused terrorists started firing after spotting the raiding team. In heavy exchange of fire, two alleged terrorists were killed while three managed to escape.
Meanwhile, the raiding team also recovered arms and hand grenades from the possession of the deceased terrorists.
“The terrorists were wanted by CTD in terrorism, bomb blast, and extortion cases”, the CTD claimed adding that the terrorists were members of a banned organization. Raids were being carried out to find the remaining three accused.
