Early Sunday morning, terrorists crashed an explosive-laden vehicle into the Fateh Khel police checkpoint in Bannu.
Bannu police repelled a militant attack on the Fatah Khel police checkpoint early Monday morning PHOTO: EXPRESS
MIRANSHAH:
The number of police martyred in a brazen attack on a Bannu police checkpoint rose to 15 on Sunday, when a banned organisation, Ittehad Mujahideen Pakistan, belonging to Fitna al-Khawarij, claimed responsibility.
On the night of Saturday to Sunday, terrorists rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the Fateh Khel police checkpoint in Bannu, causing a massive explosion that completely reduced the structure to rubble.
According to police, the terrorists opened heavy fire from multiple directions after the explosion, leading to hours of intense gunfire, additional explosions and widespread panic in the area.
Bannu Regional Police Officer (RPO) Sajjad Khan said a total of 18 police officers were present at the checkpoint at the time of the attack.
“Of them, 15 embraced martyrdom on the spot, while three suffered serious injuries,” he said.
The police identified the martyred personnel as Rehmat Ayaz, Sanaullah, Niaz Ali, Sohaib, Saadullah, Kamran, Naimatullah, Abid Jani, Imran, Naeemullah, Sadiqullah, Mir Alam Khan, Rahatullah Khan and Farooq Dad. The injured were identified as Feroz, Hayatullah and Fidaullah.
The explosion also caused extensive damage to nearby structures and residential buildings.
Following the incident, an emergency was declared in the three main hospitals in Bannu, while Rescue 1122 teams rushed to the scene and shifted the injured and deceased to the hospitals.
Security forces cordoned off the entire area and launched a search operation, while quick checks were intensified at entry and exit points of the city.
Sources said contact with the Fateh Khel checkpoint was briefly lost after the attack but was later re-established once security forces took control of the situation. Later, funeral prayers were offered for the martyred police officers with full state honors at Police Lines Bannu.
The ceremony was attended by DIG Bannu Region Sajjad Khan, DPO Bannu Yasar Afridi, DPO Lakki Marwat Nazir Khan, SP CTD Fazal Wahid, SP Headquarters Mahmood Nawaz, SP City Tauheed Khan, SP Rural Haider Khan, senior police officials, staff and a large number of family members of the martyrs.
The martyrs were buried with full official honors amidst chants of “Shaheed zinda hain”.
The Fateh Khel checkpoint has been the target of more than 40 attacks in recent months.
However, the latest attack is described as the deadliest in terms of intensity and casualties.
President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday paid tribute to the police personnel martyred in the terror attack and expressed his condolences to the families of the martyrs, according to a press release.
Zardari also expressed regret over the damage caused to the homes of local residents in the incident and called on the provincial and federal governments to ensure all possible assistance to the injured and affected families.
He reiterated that the nefarious designs of the terrorists will be defeated. The nation stood shoulder to shoulder with its security forces.
The President further said that at a time when Pakistan was striving for regional and global peace, Indian-backed terrorist groups operating from safe havens provided by the Taliban regime were attacking Pakistani civilians and law enforcement agencies.
Minister Shehbaz Sharif also telephoned KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and condemned the terrorist attack on a police post in Bannu. He expressed deep regret and pain over the loss of precious lives in the incident.
He prayed for higher status in heaven for the police personnel martyred in the attack and expressed his condolences to their families and also prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the incident.
He reiterated the federal government’s commitment to working with provincial governments to eradicate terrorism, adding that all possible support will be provided to the provincial government in the fight against terrorism.
KP CM, in a statement, strongly condemned the terrorist attack and expressed deep regret and pain over the loss of lives in the attack and directed the authorities to ensure provision of best possible medical treatment to the injured.
Seven terrorists killed in North Waziristan
Meanwhile, security forces neutralized seven more terrorists, including two key commanders, in a large-scale search and clearance operation in Tehsil Shewa and adjoining areas of North Waziristan.
According to sources, multiple terrorist hideouts were destroyed during an ongoing operation that entered its third day on Sunday.
In Drazinda area of Tehsil Shewa, Alam Khel market was almost completely demolished during intense action, while a mosque located inside the market was also destroyed after explosives were planted. Local sources claimed that these places were allegedly being used by terrorists for shelter and movement.
In the Anar Khel area, a suspected terrorist hideout and a residential house were also blown up with explosive material. Sources said that during the operation, security forces took control of several important government buildings and facilities, including the Governor Model School, which was allegedly being used by militants.
Sources further claimed that house-to-house search operations are being carried out in and around Drazinda while contingents of additional forces have been deployed at multiple locations. Security personnel raided several suspicious locations and recovered weapons and other materials.
Reports suggest that the terrorists have suffered heavy casualties so far; those killed were allegedly involved in attacks against security forces and police and in targeted killings.
According to sources, operations have also been launched against terrorist hideouts in the Sakhni area, where intermittent gunshots and explosions continue to be heard.
A rolling curfew has been imposed in the affected areas, seriously disrupting daily life and causing significant hardship to residents. Locals reported that many families have moved to safer places, while commercial activities have stopped completely.
Security sources, however, maintained that the objective of the operation is to completely clear the area of militant elements and restore law and order.
Multiple terrorist hideouts destroyed during ongoing operation in North Waziristan
