At least 15 police personnel were martyred after terrorists rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the Fateh Khel police post in Bannu late at night, police shared information on Sunday. Police said three cops were rescued alive from the debris following the powerful explosion.
The martyred officers were identified as Rehmat Ayaz, Sanaullah, Niaz Ali, Suhaib, Saadullah, Kamran, son of Mehmood Khan, Naimatullah, Kamran, Abid Jani, Imran, Naeemullah, Sadiq Ullah, Mir Alam Khan, Rahatullah Khan and Farooq Dad. DIG Bannu Region Sajjad Khan visited the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital late at night and inquired about the condition of the injured personnel.
Speaking to the media at the hospital, the DIG said the morale of the Bannu Police remains high, and terrorists will never succeed in their evil intentions. He added that this would prove to be the terrorists’ last cowardly attack and vowed that security forces would bring the attackers to justice and eliminate terrorism from the region. Police confirmed that a search and rescue operation is still underway.
President Asif Ali Zardari paid tribute to the police personnel martyred in the terrorist attack. The president expressed condolences to the families of the martyrs, prayed for the high ranks of deceased and urged the bereaved families to remain patient during this difficult time, President’s Secretariat Media Wing said in a press release. President Zardari also expressed sorrow over the damage caused to the homes of the local residents in the incident and directed both the provincial and federal governments to ensure all possible assistance for the injured and affected families. He reiterated that the nefarious designs of terrorists would be defeated. The nation stood shoulder to shoulder with its security forces. The president further said that at a time when Pakistan was striving for regional and global peace, terrorist groups backed by India and operating from safe havens provided under the Taliban regime were targeting Pakistan’s civilian population and law enforcement agencies.
Pakistan would succeed in its efforts for global peace and would also defeat terrorists and their supporters, he added. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday telephoned Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Sohail Afridi and strongly condemned the recent terrorist attack on a police checkpoint in Bannu. During the conversation, the Prime Minister expressed deep sorrow and grief over the loss of precious lives in the attack and prayed for the elevation of ranks of the police personnel martyred. He also extended heartfelt condolences to their bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the attack.
Reaffirming the federal government’s commitment to eliminating terrorism, Shehbaz Sharif said the Center would continue working closely with provincial governments to ensure complete eradication of terrorism from the country. “We will provide every possible assistance to the provincial government in the fight against terrorism,” the Prime Minister said. Both leaders paid tribute to the Pakistan Armed Forces, security forces, and police personnel for their sacrifices and efforts in combating terrorism. The Prime Minister reiterated that the government remains fully determined to eliminate all forms of terrorism from the country.