ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have paid rich tribute to 10 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police personnel, including Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Haider Zaman, who were martyred in a terrorist attack in Kohat district on Wednesday.
According to police, the team came under attack while returning from an operation, carried out with the local civil administration, against people involved in illegal gold mining near Kohat. Police said 18 terrorists were killed in the exchange of fire that followed. Sub-Inspector Mukhtiar was also among the martyred, and several other personnel were injured.
Police officials said the attackers opened fire on the police team from nearby hilltops, and several police vehicles were set on fire during the attack. Police returned fire, leading to an intense exchange in which the attackers suffered heavy losses. An emergency was declared at the district headquarters hospital in Kohat to treat the injured.
Leadership condemns the attack
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who is in Türkiye for the COP31 summit, strongly condemned the attack and said the police personnel had shown exceptional bravery by laying down their lives in the line of duty. He extended his condolences to the families of the martyrs and prayed for the swift recovery of the injured.
The prime minister said the alleged nexus between criminal elements and Fitna al-Khawarij – the term the state uses for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan – was an attempt to spread instability, and that such elements would not be allowed to achieve their objectives. He reiterated that Pakistan’s peace and stability were non-negotiable and that the government and the nation stand firmly behind the security forces and police.
President Zardari also expressed grief over the loss of lives and paid tribute to the courage of the martyred personnel, reaffirming the state’s resolve to continue the fight against terrorism.
Sacrifices of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police said the martyred officers hailed from the province, mostly from Kohat, and that their sacrifices would always be remembered. Security in the area was placed on high alert and reinforcements were sent to the scene after the attack.
Police in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been at the forefront of the fight against militancy, frequently coming under attack while carrying out security duties and operations against criminal networks.
The government has repeatedly stated its resolve to eliminate terrorism. As the prime minister’s statement highlighted, links between militant groups and criminal networks, such as those involved in illegal mining, remain a key challenge for security forces in the province.
Related: more Pakistan news
Featured image: Photo: Noorjehan / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
