At least four policemen were tragically martyred in a terrorist attack in Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, amid the ongoing general elections in Pakistan. The assailants targeted a police vehicle with a grenade in Kulachi Tehsil, injuring three other policemen, one of whom is currently in critical condition.
As part of security measures for the elections, the Ministry of Interior had earlier “temporarily” suspended cellular services across Pakistan. A spokesperson from the ministry highlighted the loss of precious lives in recent terrorism incidents leading up to the general elections.
Simultaneously, in Balochistan’s Gwadar, two Levies personnel sustained injuries in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast on Sariab Road in Quetta. Fortunately, no loss of life was reported, according to the police.
This incident follows a tragic event on February 5, where at least 10 policemen were martyred, and six others were injured in a late-night attack on a police station in DI Khan. The terrorists, armed with heavy weapons, targeted the police station in Tehsil Daraban, launching grenades and heavy gunfire from all sides. Despite the police’s retaliation, the terrorists managed to escape under the cover of darkness.
Statistics from the Department of Interior and Tribal Affairs KP revealed that areas most affected by terrorism include Peshawar, Khyber, Bajaur, and Tank. DI Khan, North Waziristan, and South Waziristan are also identified as terror-affected regions. Last year alone, KP witnessed a total of 1,050 incidents of terrorism, with 419 occurring in arranged districts and 631 in merged districts, according to documents from the Home and Tribal areas.