Five cops martyred as gunmen open fire on police van in KP’s Karak

Karak (Web Desk): Five police personnel embraced martyrdom in deadly attack on a police patrol in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) Karak on Tuesday, officials confirmed.

According to District Police Officer (DPO) Saud Khan, the policemen were traveling in a police mobile when armed attackers suddenly opened fire.

The assailants managed to escape after the attack. The DPO said all five officers in the vehicle lost their lives in the shooting.

He further stated that the police van was assigned to provide security to a private gas company.

Following the attack, the perpetrators set the vehicle on fire before fleeing the area.

A large contingent of police rushed to the scene and cordoned off the area, launching a search operation to trace the attackers.

Law enforcement officials collected evidence from the site and formally initiated an investigation, examining the incident from all possible angles to determine the circumstances and identify those responsible.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly denounced the incident, expressing profound grief over the loss of the policemen and offering condolences to the bereaved families.

He lauded the police for their sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to eliminating terrorism across the country.

KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi also condemned the attack, describing it as deeply tragic and unacceptable.

He said that those responsible would be held accountable and reiterated that the provincial government stands shoulder to shoulder with the police, adding that such attacks would not weaken their determination.

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi expressed strong condemnation on Monday over a deadly attack on a police vehicle in Karak district’s Gurguri area, which claimed the lives of five police officers.

Expressing profound grief and sorrow over the loss of lives, the minister paid rich tribute to the martyred officials, saying they sacrificed their lives in the line of duty and set a “remarkable example of bravery.”

He offered heartfelt sympathies to the families who lost their loved ones in the tragedy.

Naqvi denounced the attack as a ruthless and barbaric act targeting law enforcement personnel.

The interior minister stressed that the sacrifices of these officers would not be forgotten and vowed that the state would take firm and decisive action against those responsible.