Early on Sunday, terrorists rammed a vehicle loaded with explosives into the Fateh Khel police checkpoint in Bannu.
Bannu police repel a militant attack on the Fatah Khel police checkpoint early Monday morning PHOTO: EXPRESS
MIRANSHAH:
The number of police officers martyred in a brazen attack on a police checkpoint in Bannu rose to 15 on Sunday, as a banned group, Ittehad Mujahideen Pakistan, belonging to Fitna al-Khawarij, claimed responsibility.
On Saturday night, terrorists rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the Fateh Khel police checkpoint in Bannu, triggering a massive explosion that completely reduced the structure to rubble.
Police said the terrorists opened intense fire in several directions after the blast, leading to hours of heavy gunfire, more 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.
“Among them, 15 embraced martyrdom on the spot, while three were seriously injured,” he said.
Police identified the martyrs 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 significant damage to nearby residential buildings and structures.
Following the incident, emergency was declared at the three main hospitals in Bannu, while 1122 rescue teams rushed to the spot and shifted the injured and deceased to the hospitals.
Security forces cordoned off the entire area and launched a search operation, while snap checks at entry and exit points of the city were intensified.
Sources said contact with the Fateh Khel checkpoint was briefly lost after the attack, but was later restored once security forces took control of the situation. Later, funeral prayers for the martyred police officers were offered with full state honors at the Bannu police lines.
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 relatives of the martyrs.
The martyrs were buried with full official honors amid 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 victims.
President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday paid tribute to the police officers martyred in the terror attack and expressed condolences to the families of the martyrs, according to a press release.
Zardari also expressed sadness over the damage caused to the houses of local residents during the incident and asked 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 would be defeated. The nation stood by its security forces.
The President added 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 targeting Pakistan’s civilian population and law enforcement agencies.
Minister Shehbaz Sharif also called KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and condemned the terrorist attack on a police station in Bannu. He expressed deep sadness and grief 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 condolences to their families and also prayed for speedy recovery of those injured in the incident.
He reiterated the federal government’s commitment to working with provincial governments to eradicate terrorism and added that all possible support would be provided to the provincial government in the fight against terrorism.
The KP CM, in a statement, strongly condemned the terrorist attack and expressed deep sadness over the loss of lives in the attack and directed the authorities to ensure provision of the best possible medical treatment to the injured.
Seven terrorists killed in North Waziristan
Meanwhile, security forces neutralized seven more terrorists, including two key commanders, during a large-scale search and clearing operation in Tehsil Shewa and adjoining areas of North Waziristan.
According to sources, several terrorist hideouts were destroyed during an ongoing operation which entered its third day on Sunday.
In Drazinda area of Tehsil Shewa, the 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 said these locations were believed to have been used by terrorists as shelters and means of travel.
In Anar Khel region, a suspected terrorist hideout and a residential house were also blown up using explosive materials. Sources said that during the operation, security forces took control of several important government buildings and installations, including the Governor’s Model School, which was allegedly used by militants.
Sources further said that house-to-house search operations were underway in and around Drazinda, while additional contingents had been deployed to several locations. Security personnel conducted raids on several suspicious sites and recovered weapons and other materials.
Reports suggest that the terrorists have suffered heavy losses so far; those killed were allegedly involved in attacks against security forces, police and targeted killings.
According to sources, operations were also launched against the terrorists’ hideouts in the Sakhni region, where intermittent firing and explosions continued to be heard.
A continued curfew has been imposed in affected areas, severely disrupting daily life and causing considerable hardship to residents. Residents reported that many families have moved to safer locations, while commercial activities have been completely halted.
Security sources, however, said the objective of the operation was to completely clear the area of militant elements and restore law and order.
Several terrorist hideouts destroyed in ongoing operation in North Waziristan
