2 police personnel martyred in terrorist attack in Dera Ismail Khan

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Two police personnel, including an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI), were martyred in an attack by suspected militants in the Shah Alam Mor area within the jurisdiction of Choudhwan Police Station, while an armoured personnel carrier (APC) of Daraban Police also came under attack in a separate incident. No casualties were reported in the APC attack.

According to Regional Police Officer (RPO) Dera Ismail Khan Ghulam Mubashir Maken, unidentified armed men attempted to stop two motorcycle riders in the Choudhwan area last night. When they did not stop, the assailants opened fire, killing a civilian identified as Adnan.

Following the incident, local residents blocked Daraban Road in protest on Sunday morning. Police held negotiations with the protesters and succeeded in reopening the road for traffic.

While returning after the negotiations, four Choudhwan police personnel travelling on two motorcycles came under a sudden attack near Shah Alam Mor. The militants opened indiscriminate fire on the policemen, resulting in the martyrdom of ASI Faqeer Muhammad, a resident of Jhok Sikandar Paroa, and Head Constable Wazir Khan.

Heavy police contingents rushed to the scene after receiving information about the attack, while local residents also reached the area to assist the police. The attackers fled after the firing. Police and security forces subsequently launched a search operation in the surrounding area.

In a separate incident, the police party accompanying the SHO of Choudhwan Police Station and an APC of Daraban Police, led by APC in-charge Abid Hussain, came under fire from militants at Darazinda Mor while returning after the protest. The police retaliated, forcing the attackers to flee. No loss of life was reported in the incident.

Police and security forces immediately reached the site and launched a search operation to track down the attackers.

Martyrs Laid to Rest with Full State Honours

The funeral prayers of martyred police personnel ASI Faqeer Ahmed and Head Constable Wazir Ahmed were offered at Ejaz Shaheed Police Lines in Dera Ismail Khan with full official honours.

Station Commander Brigadier Muhammad Abu Bakar, RPO Ghulam Mubashir Maken, DPO Ziauddin Ahmed, Deputy Commissioner Hikmatullah Wazir, SP CTD Iftikhar Ali Shah, senior civil and police officers, Pakistan Army officers, government officials, local elders, civil society representatives and the families of the martyrs attended the funeral.

A smartly turned out police contingent presented a guard of honour to the martyrs, whose bodies were wrapped in the national flag. Senior officials and other participants laid floral wreaths on the coffins and offered prayers for the elevation of the martyrs’ ranks, the security of Pakistan and lasting peace.

After the funeral, RPO Ghulam Mubashir Maken and DPO Ziauddin Ahmed met the families of the martyrs and expressed their condolences and solidarity.

The RPO said the martyrs were an asset to the nation and a source of pride for the police department, adding that their sacrifices would always be remembered.

He vowed that the blood of the martyrs would not go in vain and that the elements involved in the Shah Alam Mor attack would be arrested and brought to justice at the earliest. He said action would also be taken against their facilitators without discrimination.

Ghulam Mubashir Maken said Dera police would continue performing its duties with full force, professional commitment and national spirit until the menace of terrorism was completely eliminated. He added that efforts to maintain peace and protect the lives and property of citizens would continue.