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LAHORE:
Two police officers were killed and four others injured when a suicide bomber struck a checkpoint in Bhakkar district on Tuesday evening, officials confirmed.
Bhakkar District Police Officer (DPO) Shahzad Rafiq said the attack took place near Dajil check post, where police were carrying out a search operation to maintain law and order. According to him, the suicide bomber approached the checkpoint and blew himself up during the operation.
“The suicide bomber approached the check post and blew himself up, while we were conducting a search operation in the area to maintain law and order,” DPO Rafiq said.
The blast claimed the lives of police officers Muhammad Faheem and Muhammad Shehbaz, while another police officer, Arshad, was injured.
Three bystanders were also injured in the explosion, but their identities have not yet been confirmed. All the injured people were shifted to the district headquarters hospital, the DPO added.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the terrorist attack, expressing deep sadness over the martyrdom of police personnel in the incident.
In a statement issued by the media wing of the Prime Minister’s Office, the Prime Minister condoled with the families of the martyred officers and prayed for the souls of the departed. He also prayed for the patience and courage of the bereaved families during this difficult time.
The Prime Minister said the sacrifices made by the police in the war against terrorism would never be in vain. He reiterated that the government remains resolute in its commitment to completely eradicate terrorism from the country.
Reiterating the state’s resolve, the Prime Minister said the fight against terrorism would continue until the menace was completely eliminated and lasting peace was restored.
In a statement, President Asif Ali Zardari strongly condemned the terrorist attack. He expressed his sadness over the martyrdom of the police officers and offered his condolences to the bereaved families. The President also prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also condemned the assault on the police check post, paying homage to the martyred officers and saluting their sacrifice in the line of duty.
She expressed her sincere condolences to the families of the deceased and asked the authorities to provide the best possible medical treatment to the injured policeman and other injured people.
The attack comes on the same day that six law enforcement personnel, including a deputy commissioner of police, were killed in another terrorist attack on a police vehicle in Kohat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa state.
The Dajil checkpoint is located along the border between Dera Ismail Khan and Bhakkar, an area that has seen increased security concerns in recent years.
