Police on Sunday killed three terrorists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Lakki Marwat district during a search operation, according to a statement from the province’s inspector general of police (IGP).
According to IGP Zulfikar Ahmed’s statement, operations are being carried out at the district level in KP to eliminate terrorists.
“In Lakki district, police are facing more cowardly acts by terrorists, to which they are giving a strong and effective response,” he was quoted as saying.
“Noting the presence of terrorists within the limits of Tajuri police station last night, the local police and the peace committee chased them,” the IGP’s statement read. “Lakki police, the Counter-Terrorism Department and the Special Quick Response Force launched a search operation.”
A separate statement from Lakki police said that the operation took place at 10:45am this morning in the Madozai forest and was led by District Police Officer Jawad Ishaq.
The IGP’s statement read, “In the operation, 20 to 25 terrorists were encountered within the limits of Tajuri and Bargai police stations. Heavy weapons were used by both sides in this two-hour long battle.
“The police fought very bravely and killed three terrorists without suffering any losses,” the IGP was quoted as saying. “Upon learning that, several injured terrorists fled the scene and a search operation was launched.”
Three people, including two Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) police officers, were killed early Sunday in a gun attack on an Excise Department patrol in the Pabbi area of Nowshera district.
The shooting occurred around 2am when unidentified assailants in a white double-cabin vehicle opened fire after being signalled to stop.
Constables Mujahid Khan and Iftikhar Ahmed were killed on the spot, while Sub-Inspector Farooq Bacha sustained multiple gunshot wounds. His driver was also fatally shot.
Bacha was transferred to Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar in critical condition, according to authorities.
Funeral prayers for the slain officers were held later in the morning at Police Lines, attended by K-P police chief Qasim Khan and senior excise officials.
Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur condemned the attack and promised full support for the victims’ families.
“Justice will be served,” he said, directing authorities to swiftly apprehend the culprits.
The K-P chief secretary also sought a detailed report, noting that the excise officials had been actively involved in counter-smuggling operations.
“Their sacrifices will not go in vain,” he said, vowing to expand the crackdown on narcotics and illicit trade.
The assault comes amid a surge in violence targeting security forces in K-P. Just a day earlier, District Police Officer Shah Hassan survived a remote-controlled IED blast in Shangla.
Separately, a policeman was shot dead on Sunday in Karachi’s Ranchor Line area over what appeared to be personal enmity, police said.
According to a statement issued by the Karachi Police Office (KPO), constable Muhammad Ayub – posted at the Chakiwara police station – was shot dead after unidentified suspects opened fire on him near Ghousia Biryani.
Later, the constable was taken to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries and further investigation was under way, the KPO said.