DSP among four martyred in IED blast

F.P. Report

LAKKI MARWAT: A Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) district Lakki Marwat Iqbal Mohmand and three of his squad members embraced martyrdom while six police officials got injured in an apparently planned terrorists’ attack on a police station followed by an IED blast on DSP’s vehicle in district Lakki Marwat in the wee hours on Thursday.

According to police, the terrorists first attacked the Sadar police station with modern and heavy weapons but the police personnel who were already on alert gave a befitting response as a result of which the terrorists retreated and escaped while taking advantage of the darkness.

However, in exchange of firing five police personnel deployed at the police station including Head Constable Farooq Shah and Constables Amanatullah, Azghar Ali, Gul Tiaz and Arif were injured. As soon as the information went viral on police wireless system, DSP Iqbal Mohmand along with his squad rushed to the police station to rescue the injured police officials but himself fell prey to an IED blast at Peerwale Mor, which claimed the lives of DSP Iqbal Khan Mohmand and three of his gunners including Karamat, Waqar and Ali Marjan while driver of the vehicle Sardar Ali was injured in the deadly blast.

The other teams of police force also arrived at the scene, cordoned off the area and started a search operation. Meanwhile Rescue 1122 teams reached on the spot and shifted injured and the dead bodies to the hospitals. DSP Iqbal Khan Mohmand had been serving in Lakki Marwat for a long time and had conducted several successful operations against terrorists and criminals.

KP police chief and District Police Officer (DPO) Lakki Marwat said that DSP Iqbal Mohmand’s dedication and bravery would be remembered forever and expressed the resolve that the perpetrators of the cowardly attack would soon be brought to justice.

Meawhile, the funeral prayer of DSP Iqbal Mohmand and other four police officials who embraced martyrdom in a deadly explosion on a police van was offered here at Police Line.

District Emergency Officer Engineer Faseehullah Khan, Emergency Officer Atif Sardar, RPO Syed Ashfaq Ahmed Bannu, DPO Lakki Marwat, Deputy Commissioner Abdul Hadi Sahib, ADC Lakki Marwat, officials of CTD, Special Branch, Pakistan Army and district police and elders of the area attended the funeral prayer.

On the occasion a police contingent presented salute to the martyrs. Later, the bodies of martyred police officials were shifted to their native towns in Rescue-1122 ambulances for burial with official protocol.

Caretaker Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Azam Khan on Thursday strongly condemned cowardly terrorists’ attack on a police station followed by an IED blast on the vehicle of a DSP in Lakki Marwat. He said that KP police have made great sacrifices for peace and order in the province and such cowardly attacks could not shake the resolve of the police force in wiping out terrorism and militancy.

He said that the provincial government and the people of the province highly acknowledge the sacrifices of the police martyrs. The Chief Minister expressed his condolences on the martyrdom of four police personnel including a DSP in the incident and conveyed his heartfelt sympathy to the families of the martyrs. He prayed for the elevation of the ranks of the martyrs and reiterated that the provincial government would not leave the families of the martyrs alone, adding that all possible support would be provided to the bereaved families. He also issued instructions to the quarters concerned for provision of best medical treatment to the injured police officials of the attack.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has expressed profound grief and sorrow over the martyrdom of four police personnel including a DSP in a militant attack in Lakki Marwat. In a tweet on Thursday, he said the sacrifices of our police officers and Jawans in the war against terrorism are unforgettable.

The Prime Minister prayed that Allah Almighty grant the martyrs a place in the Heaven and speedy recovery to the injured. According to reports quoting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police, a deputy superintendent of police (DSP) and three constables were martyred when an improvised explosive device (IED) went off on the Pirwala Road in Lakki Marwat late Wednesday night.