At least nine people, including two traffic police personnel, were killed and 33 others injured in an explosion in the Sarai Naurang tehsil of Lakki Marwat in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on Tuesday, Naurang hospital Medical superintendent (MS) Ishaq Khan confirmed.
According to the MS Ishaq, a total of 42 people were brought to the hospital from the site of the incident, out of whom nine had died. The death toll may rise further as rescue and medical operations continue in the area.
In a statement, Bannu DIG Sajjad Khan said initial investigations suggested that explosive material had been planted in a motorcycle.
Lakki Marwat police spokesperson Qudratullah Khan said the martyred police personnel were identified as Adil Jan and Rahatullah, saying the bodies were shifted to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, while several injured were referred to hospitals in Bannu in critical condition.
According to Qudratullah, at the time of the blast, traffic police personnel were performing routine duty to regulate traffic between Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan when the explosion occurred suddenly.
Immediately after the incident, a heavy police contingent led by the DSP of Naurang Circle reached the site, cordoned off the area, collected evidence and launched rescue operations.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep grief over the martyrdom of people, including two traffic police personnel, in a blast at Sarai Naurang Bazaar in Lakki Marwat.
The prime minister, in a statement, reiterated that all relevant institutions and the government were working with unwavering resolve to purge the country of terrorism and emphasised that terrorists would not be allowed to impede the nation’s journey towards peace and progress.
Paying tribute to the sacrifices made in the fight against terrorism, PM Shehbaz noted that all law enforcement agencies and the public had rendered invaluable sacrifices in this struggle, also directed the authorities concerned to complete the inquiry into the incident immediately to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.
The prime minister also prayed for the elevation of the martyred souls in paradise and for the swift recovery of those injured in the incident.
KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi took notice of the explosion and sought a report on the incident from the inspector general of police.
“The martyrdom of two traffic police personnel and five civilians in the incident is deeply tragic,” he said.
The chief minister said the provincial government shared the grief of the victims’ families and would provide every possible assistance. He also directed authorities to ensure the provision of the best possible medical facilities to those injured.
Separately, security forces said they had foiled a suicide attack near the border of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab provinces, killing the attacker before he could reach a security checkpoint.
On Sunday, the number of police personnel martyred in a brazen attack on a Bannu police checkpoint rose to 15, as a banned outfit, Ittehad Mujahideen Pakistan, belonging to Fitna al-Khawarij, claimed responsibility for the attack.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Tuesday, said that all available resources would be utilized to enhance the capacity of law enforcement agencies (LEAs) in order to ensure the protection of citizens’ lives and property.
Chairing an important meeting to review the country’s law and order situation and matters related to the Ministry of Interior, he also directed strict implementation of the government’s zero-tolerance policy against corruption within law enforcement institutions.
The prime minister asked that recruitments in all departments under the interior ministry, including the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), must be conducted strictly on merit.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Ministers Syed Mohsin Naqvi, Ahsan Iqbal, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister of State Talal Chaudhry, and heads of various law enforcement agencies, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.
Emphasizing the need to tackle modern security challenges, the prime minister said security personnel should be equipped with advanced training and modern skills.
He further directed authorities to ensure the provision of the best equipment, modern technology and professional resources to law enforcement agencies.
During the briefing, officials informed the meeting that the under-construction jail in Islamabad would become operational in September this year.
Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi briefed the meeting on the performance and future development plans of the FIA, Islamabad Police, National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), Federal Constabulary, Capital Development Authority (CDA), and other institutions working under the Interior Ministry.