6 martyred as police come under attack in Tank, Lakki Marwat

PM orders probe into Tank attacks, President expresses deep grief over loss of lives

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Six cops were martyred on Monday as police vehicles were targeted in two separate incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Tank and Lakki Marwat districts.

“Six policemen were martyred in the IED blast,” said a statement from the Tank police spokesperson, adding that their armoured personnel carrier (APC) was targeted within the jurisdiction of the Gomal police station.

“The blast occurred while the APC was on its way to Tank from the Gomal police station,” the statement added.

The martyred included an additional station house officer (SHO), the police spokesperson said.

The bodies were taken to the Tank District Headquarters Hospital by Rescue 1122. Police have sealed off the area and a “massive” security operation was underway, state-run news agency reported.

Separately, another IED blast took place near Darra Tang road in Lakki Marwat, which injured three police personnel, according to the news agency.

According to a police statement, which did not specify the number of the wounded, a SHO and “police personnel were slightly injured and are now out of danger”.

“Fitna al Khwarij targeted the police APC with an IED explosion while they were patrolling near Jabar Khel on Darra Tang Road within the jurisdiction of the Saddar police station.

Fitna al Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Subsequently, Lakki Marwat District Police Officer (DPO) Nazir Khan reached the site of the incident and assessed the situation. A search operation was then launched in the area, the police statement said.

It quoted DPO Nazir as saying, “These cowardly acts cannot lower our morale. The Lakki Marwat police are responding vigorously to every challenge and are ready to give every possible sacrifice for the public’s protection.”

The officer asserted that the police were resolutely tackling Fitna al Khwarij, adding that security has been increased in the area.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered an “immediate investigation” into the incident and directed that those responsible be brought to justice at the earliest, according to state-run Radio Pakistan.

The premier reaffirmed the government’s commitment to completely eradicate terrorism from the country.

President Asif Ali Zardari also expressed his deep grief over the martyrdom of police personnel in the “terrorist attack”, a statement from his office said.

He paid tribute to the cops’ “bravery and their passion to serve the country”. The president prayed for the martyrs’ elevated ranks and for patience for their families. Monitoring Desk