Twin Terror Attacks Claim Nine Police Lives in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

By Tahir Shah :

At least nine law enforcement personnel were martyred in two separate terrorist attacks on Tuesday, with a suicide blast targeting a checkpost in Punjab’s Bhakkar district and an armed ambush striking a police vehicle in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kohat region.

The coordinated assaults underscore the mounting security challenges facing Pakistani security forces as militant violence continues to surge across multiple provinces.

Suicide Attack in Bhakkar

In Punjab’s Bhakkar district, two policemen embraced martyrdom when a suicide bomber attacked the Dajil inter-provincial checkpost on Tuesday evening. Constables Fahim Abbas and Shehbaz Madni were killed in the line of duty, while another officer sustained injuries.

District Police Officer Shahzad Rafiq confirmed that the attacker approached the checkpost and detonated his explosives, also wounding three passersby who were present at the scene. The injured were immediately shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital for medical treatment.

Inspector General of Punjab Police Abdul Karim paid rich tribute to the fallen officers, stating that both personnel embraced martyrdom while performing their duties with valor. The IGP directed authorities to ensure the best possible medical care for injured Constable Muhammad Arshad and expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of the martyred officers.

The IGP reaffirmed that the Punjab Police would not leave the families of the martyred personnel alone during this difficult time and that their welfare remains the department’s foremost priority. He added that every member of the force stands as an “unbreakable wall” against terrorism, including Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna-ul-Hindustan.

Ambush in Kohat

Earlier in the day, a more deadly attack unfolded in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kohat district, where unidentified gunmen ambushed a police vehicle on Shakardara Road. The police team was transporting two accused individuals for a court appearance when armed assailants opened heavy fire on the vehicle, triggering a fierce exchange of gunfire.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Asad Mehmood, Investigation Inspector Anar Gul Khan, and a police constable were among those martyred in the attack. The two accused in police custody, identified as Yousuf Khan and Samiullah, were also killed during the assault. Three Frontier Corps personnel were injured and shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital for treatment.

Police officials stated that the attackers set the vehicle on fire before fleeing the scene. Following the incident, security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation. Additional police contingents were dispatched, and security was placed on high alert amid fear and panic in the surrounding areas.

National Condemnation

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi strongly condemned the terrorist attack on the police vehicle, paying tribute to DSP Asad Mehmood and the martyred personnel. He expressed heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the bereaved families, stating that the martyred officers had made the ultimate sacrifice for the nation and that their bravery would always be remembered.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also condemned both attacks, paying tribute to the fallen officers and expressing solidarity with their families. The president said the martyred personnel had given huge sacrifices for the motherland, while the prime minister reiterated that the menace of terrorism would be eradicated from the country.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif denounced the Bhakkar attack and directed authorities to ensure the best possible medical treatment for the injured. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and Chief Minister Sohail Afridi also condemned the Kohat ambush and praised the fallen officers’ sacrifice.

Rising Violence

The twin attacks come amid a surge in terrorist violence across the country, particularly in provinces bordering Afghanistan. According to the Annual Security Report by the Centre for Research and Security Studies, fatalities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa rose significantly in recent years, with the province bearing the brunt of militant activity.

On Monday, three Federal Constabulary personnel were martyred in a terrorist attack in Karak district, and last week, eleven security personnel were killed in a suicide attack on a checkpost in Bajaur district. Security analysts have noted an increase in both frequency and lethality of militant incidents, part of a broader pattern of resurgent violence after a relative lull.