President, PM condemn, CM KP vows to bring culprits to book
Tariq Saeed Peshawar
December-18-2022—Lakki Marwat continued to be under the terrorists attack as in a fresh incident at least four police men were martyred and several others sustained serious wounds when alleged terrorist ambushed a police station in Lakki with sophisticated weapons including rocket launchers Sunday wee hours.
“At least four police personnel were martyred and as many others wounded in an overnight terrorist attack by the unknown militants on the Bargai police station of Lakki Marwat district”. The officials said adding the terrorists attacked the Bargi police station with hand grenades and rocket launchers in the wee hours.
While the men in uniform retaliated the ambush with full might, the terrorists fled the scene after exchanging heavy gunfire with the police. However, there are no reports about the losses on part of the outlaws.
The bodies and the injured officials were shifted to the local state hospitals. A heavy police contingent arrived at the police station later and launched a search operation in the area yet the culprits remained at large.
Hardly two days ago, two civilians were slain in the same area, while six policemen were martyred a month ago.
Funerals for the slain policemen were held at the Lakki police line on Sunday morning, which were attended by Regional Police Officer Bannu Syed Ashfaq Anwar, District Police Officer Ziauddin and senior military and civil officials.
President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the terrorist attack.
The president expressed the resolve of continuing efforts to completely eliminate the remnants of terrorism..
PM Shehbaz said the entire nation saluted the “huge sacrifices” of police officers and soldiers in their fight against terrorism.
Paying tribute to the “supreme sacrifices” of the police personnel, PM Shehbaz said, “terrorists were the open enemies” of the nation. “Those who have been shielding the nation against terrorists are our heroes,” said a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.
The prime minister further said the elimination of terrorists, their supporters, and facilitators was the “national priority”.
He also urged the KP government to provide a compensation package to the families of martyred police personnel.
President Alvi and PM Shehbaz expressed their condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the high ranks of the departed souls and the early recovery of the injured.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also condemned the martyrdom of police personnel by the terrorists.
“Attacks on security forces and police personnel in KP are worrying,” he said. “Terrorists should be chased and brought to justice.”
He expressed sympathy with the martyred policemen’s families. FM Bilawal also prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured personnel.
KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan condemned the attack and offered his condolences while wishing the injured a speedy recovery, according to a press handout.
He also asked the inspector general of police for a report on the incident and directed that the injured police officials be provided with the best medical aid.
Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah prayed for the martyrs’ families to have patience during the tough time.
He also took a jibe at the KP chief minister saying, “CM should seriously give attention to the law and order situation (in KP); he should spend more time in his province and less in Zaman Park (PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s residence).”
The PML-N leader reprimanded Mahmood, asking him to “fulfil the responsibilities of protecting the people’s lives and belongings rather than becoming an instrument of sedition”, referring to his support for Imran.
Sanaullah expressed his concern, “If attacks are taking place on the police, then what would be the condition of the public’s protection?”
He asserted that the federal government is ready to “help and cooperate” with the KP government in “every possible way”.
Former president Asif Ali Zardari condemned the attack as well, expressing condolences to the martyred police officials’ families, according to the PPP’s official Twitter account.
Highlighting that the “increase in terrorism incidents in KP was concerning”, he demanded strict measures to be taken to suppress terrorists.
