The police are investigating. Photo: (file)/Ramzan Seemab
DERA ISMAIL KHAN/MIRANSHAH:
Two policemen were killed, 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 a peace committee leader was killed in an explosion near his shop in Lakki district.
According to police officials, the blast in South Waziristan occurred around 5 p.m. near the main entrance of a supermarket where a police van was carrying out routine patrols. The explosive device placed near the entrance detonated with a powerful explosion, injuring police officers and civilians present at the scene. Two police officers were martyred on the spot.
The explosion occurred when the bazaar was crowded with customers.
DSP Wana Circle Asghar Ali Shah said the explosive material was placed near the main entrance of the supermarket and was probably detonated via a remote control or a timed device.
After the blast, local residents, police personnel and rescue teams launched rescue operations and shifted the injured to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital in Wana.
Medical Superintendent of DHQ Wana Hospital, Dr Jan Mohammad, said the bodies of the two martyred policemen were brought to the hospital. A civilian was also killed in the attack.
He said the injured, including elderly people, children and young men, were taken to hospital where they received medical treatment. An emergency was declared at the hospital to ensure rapid medical care for the victims. Several injured people are said to be in critical condition.
Among 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 note and strongly condemned the incident. In a statement, he asked the IG to submit a detailed report on the incident.
Afridi expressed sadness over the victims and offered condolences to the bereaved families. He said the provincial government stood with the families of the martyrs in this difficult time.
The KP Chief Minister also asked the authorities concerned to ensure immediate provision of best possible medical facilities to the injured.
He said such cowardly terrorist acts could not 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 an increase in terrorist incidents, bombings, targeted killings, kidnappings for ransom and attacks on police and security forces. Local residents expressed serious concerns and urged the government to take effective measures to improve security.
In Lakki district, two people, including the brother of a peace committee chairman, were killed and 11 others injured in a motorcycle bomb blast near a battery shop in the jurisdiction of the city police station, Manjiwala Chowk, 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 detonated with a powerful blast.
Shoaib and a civilian were killed, while 11 others were injured.
A large contingent of police and security forces cordoned off the area, collected evidence from the site and launched a search operation.
