Three traffic police personnel were killed and others injured after unidentified armed men attacked a police vehicle in Wazirabad, Tank.
WEB DESK: Three traffic police personnel were martyred after unidentified armed men opened fire on a traffic police vehicle in the Wazirabad area of Tank district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on Monday, according to police.
The attack took place near Shehzada Market in Wazirabad, where the assailants targeted a vehicle carrying traffic police personnel, District Police Officer Abdul Samad said.
Three traffic policemen killed
The three personnel killed in the attack were identified as Constable Saleem Shah, Constable Gul Ameen and driver Pir Fayyaz, according to details provided by police.
At least one police officer was seriously injured. Dawn reported that three other people, including two passersby, were also injured in the firing.
The injured were shifted to hospital for medical treatment.
Radio Pakistan reported that an injured police officer was taken to a nearby hospital, while security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to trace the attackers.
Attackers took police vehicle
Police said the attackers fled with the traffic police vehicle after the shooting.
Authorities subsequently launched a search operation involving police and army personnel to locate the assailants and recover the vehicle.
The vehicle was later found abandoned near a bridge under construction in Garha Budha, according to officials cited by Express Tribune.
Police said efforts were continuing to identify and arrest those responsible for the attack. Dawn also reported that an investigation was under way.
Officials condemn attack
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the firing and expressed grief over the deaths of the three traffic police personnel.
In a statement, Naqvi offered condolences to the families of the deceased and paid tribute to the police personnel.
Radio Pakistan reported that the interior minister described the attackers as “Khawarij terrorists” and said the sacrifices of the slain personnel would not go to waste. This terminology reflects the government’s characterization of the attackers.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi also expressed sorrow over the incident and sought a report from the relevant authorities, according to Dawn. He directed officials to ensure medical treatment for the injured.
Investigation underway
Express Tribune reported that police identified the attackers as members of Fitna al-Khawarij. This attribution comes from police and government sources and has not been independently established in the available reporting.
The latest attack adds to a series of deadly security incidents reported in southern parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in recent weeks.
On September 26, a suicide bombing at a joint Customs, police and Excise checkpoint in Darazinda, Dera Ismail Khan, killed 13 people and injured 26, according to Express Tribune. Separate attacks following the blast also killed two Rescue 1122 personnel.
