Gunmen storm Lakki Marwat court, kill policeman

A police constable was martyred and two people sustained injuries after unidentified armed men opened fire outside a courtroom at the Judicial Complex in Lakki Marwat, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), on Saturday.

The incident took place outside the courtroom of an additional sessions judge, where the attackers reportedly fired indiscriminately, triggering panic among lawyers, litigants and visitors present at the complex.

According to District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital spokesperson Jalal Khan, Constable Karamatullah was killed on the spot. Advocate Javed Iqbal, the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) district information secretary, and another man identified as Inshaullah sustained bullet injuries.

The injured were initially shifted to the DHQ Hospital before being transferred to Bannu for further medical treatment. Khan confirmed that the hospital received the body of the deceased constable and two injured individuals.

Following the shooting, a heavy police contingent rushed to the Judicial Complex and launched an investigation. Authorities sealed the premises and suspended all entry and exit movements as security was tightened across the area.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the attack and attempting to establish the motive and identify those responsible.

The attack has raised fresh concerns over security at sensitive government installations in K-P, particularly judicial facilities that receive daily visits from judges, lawyers, litigants and members of the public.

The incident comes amid a renewed wave of violence targeting police and security personnel across the province.

A day earlier, three policemen were martyred in separate attacks in Bannu, Lakki Marwat and Bajaur. Meanwhile, unidentified armed men abducted a head constable in Bannu.

In Bajaur, gunmen attacked the Salai Pati Police Post late at night, killing Constable Khaista Main Syed. In Bannu, Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) Constable Sadiq Zaman was shot dead by unidentified assailants.

Another policeman, Constable Mumtaz, was martyred when armed men opened fire on him near a bank in Lakki Marwat.

K-P has remained one of the country’s most affected regions amid escalating militant violence. Terrorist incidents in the province increased by 195% between March 1, 2024, and September 23, 2026, while drone attacks also recorded a sharp rise.

According to available figures, police and security personnel were the targets of 73% of terrorist attacks reported in K-P during 2026, highlighting the growing security challenges facing the province.