Police conducting investigations. Photo: (file)/Ramzan Seemab
DERA ISMAIL KHAN/MIRANSHAH:
Two policemen were martyred while 15 people, including five policemen, were injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in Rustam Bazaar area of Wana in Lower South Waziristan on Saturday.
In another attack, the brother of the head of a peace committee was killed in an explosion near his shop in Lakki district.
According to police officials, the explosion in South Waziristan occurred around 5pm near the main entrance of a supermarket where a police van was carrying out routine patrols. The explosive device placed near the entrance exploded with a powerful explosion, injuring police and civilians present at the scene. Two police officers were killed on the spot.
The explosion occurred when the bazaar was packed with shoppers.
DSP Wana Circle Asghar Ali Shah said the explosive material had been placed near the main door of the supermarket and was probably detonated through a remote control or a timed device.
Following the blast, local residents, police personnel and rescue teams launched relief efforts and shifted the injured to the District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) in Wana.
DHQ Hospital Wana Medical Superintendent Dr Jan Mohammad said the bodies of the two martyred police officers were brought to the hospital. One civilian was also killed in the attack.
He said the injured, including the elderly, children and youth, were taken to the hospital where they received medical treatment. An emergency was declared at the hospital to ensure prompt medical attention to the victims. Several injured people were reported to be in critical condition.
Among the five injured police officers, four are sub-inspectors.
Police have launched an investigation to determine the nature of the explosion and identify those responsible, while security in the area has been further tightened.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi took notice and strongly condemned the incident. In a statement, he directed the IG to submit a detailed report on the incident.
Afridi expressed his sorrow for the victims and extended his deepest condolences to the bereaved families. He said the provincial government supported the families of the martyrs in this difficult time.
The KP chief minister also directed the authorities concerned to ensure immediate provision of the best possible medical facilities to the injured.
He said that such cowardly acts of terrorists cannot weaken the resolve of the people and the government.
Over the past year, the security situation in Lower South Waziristan, Upper South Waziristan and North Waziristan has deteriorated, with increasing incidents of terrorism, bomb blasts, targeted killings, kidnappings for ransom and attacks on police and security forces. Local residents have expressed serious concern and urged the government to take effective measures to improve security.
In Lakki district, two people, including the brother of the peace committee president, were killed and 11 others injured in a bomb blast launched by a motorcycle near a battery shop in the jurisdiction of Manjiwala Chowk town police station, officials said.
According to police sources, the blast occurred near the battery shop of Shoaib Khan, brother of peace committee chairman Khalid Khan, when an explosive device exploded with a powerful explosion.
As a result, Shoaib and one civilian were killed, while 11 other people were injured.
A strong contingent of police and security forces cordoned off the area, collected evidence at the scene and launched a search operation.
