DSP Iqbal Momand among four police officers martyred, 6 others injured in result of terrorist attack in Lakki Marwat
PM Shehbaz, Caretaker CM KP Azam Khan express grief over martyrdom of four police personnel in Lakki Marwat attack
LAKKI MARWAT/ISLAMABAD
A terrorist attack on a police station in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Lakki Marwat district in the wee hours of Thursday resulted in the death of at least four policemen, including Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Iqbal Momand.
At around 1:00 AM, the terrorists attacked Saddar police station with modern and heavy weapons. The police personnel, who were already on alert, responded with retaliatory fire due to which the terrorists escaped in the darkness of the night.
The martyred police officials include DSP Iqbal Mohmand, Karamat, Waqar and Ali Marjan while injured officials were identified as Head Constable Farooq Shah, Constable Gultiaz, Constable Asghar, Constable Amanat, Constable Arif and Constable Sardar Ali.
As soon as the information about the incident was received, a team led by DSP Iqbal Momand made its way to the police station. On their way, an IED exploded on the road near Pirwala Mor, near the APC vehicle of DSP Momand.
DSP Momand, Constable Waqar, Constable Ali Marjan and Constable Karamatullah were martyred in the roadside bomb explosion.
The injured police officers were taken to Lakki City Hospital for immediate medical assistance. Funeral prayers for the martyrs were held in the morning.
The outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed responsibility for the attack.
According to the police, the blast occurred as the personnel were en route to the Saddar police station, where policemen were fending off an attack under way. “The DSP, along with a heavy contingent, left for the police station after he received information regarding a terrorist attack there.
“On the way, near the Pirwala turn, an IED blast occurred in which DSP Iqbal Momand and constables Ali Marjan, Waqar and Karamatullah were martyred,” it added.
Lakki Marwat police spokesperson Shahid Hameed told a private TV channel that terrorists opened fire at the Saddar police station in the early hours of Thursday. Resultantly, an exchange of fire took place between the police and the terrorists.
During the gunfight, six policemen were injured, he said. The wounded men, identified as Head Constable Farooq Shah and constables Amanatullah, Asghar, Sardar Ali and Arif have been moved to the Lakki City Hospital.
A police statement also revealed that the militants were equipped with advanced and heavy weaponry. “The police were on alert and the attackers had to flee when the police returned fire.” The terrorists fled while taking advantage of the darkness, it added.
Meanwhile, funeral prayers for the martyred policemen were offered at the Police Lines in Lakki Marwat and attended by RPO Bannu Syed Ashfaq Anwar, Pakistan Army’s Brigadier Imran, DPO Lakki Marwat Muhammad Ashfaq Khan, Deputy Commission Lakki Marwat Abdul Hadi, DPO Bannu Ziauddin Ahmed, Pakistan Army officers, senior police officials and community leaders.
Talking to a private TV channel, former chief of the National Counter Terrorism Authority, Ihsan Ghani, said that the police are a “soft target” for armed groups. Ghani, who has also served as chief of the KP police, said that police routinely come under attack as they are on the streets and perform duties anywhere. “We are now alone in the war on terrorism,” he added.
Meanwhile Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has said that sustainability and development of Pakistan rests in the elimination of terrorism.
In a statement, while strongly condemning the attack on Police Station Sadar in Lakki Marwat area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he expressed profound grief and sorrow over the martyrdom of four police personnel including DSP Iqbal Mohmand.
The Prime Minister paid glowing tributes to DSP Headquarters Iqbal Mohmand, Sepoy Waqar, Marjan and Karamat, who embraced martyrdom in the incident.
Shehbaz Sharif expressed condolence and sympathies with the families of the martyrs. He said police is playing excellent role as the first line of defence against terrorism.
He said police officers and Jawans bravely fought against the terrorists’ attack on Sadar Police Station in Lakki Marwat.
Praying for the speedy recovery of Driver Sardar Ali of the Armed Personnel Carrier and six other injured policemen, the Prime Minister directed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to give martyrs package to the killed policemen and best treatment facilities to the injured.
Meanwhile Caretaker Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Azam Khan has assured all possible support to bereaved families.
He said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police has rendered matchless sacrifices for establishing peace in the province.
Chief Minister paid glorious tributes to Police martyrs on behalf of provincial government and people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.