PESHAWAR: Two policemen and a terrorist were killed in an encounter in Tauheedabad area on the outskirts of Peshawar on Thursday.

An official of Chamkani police station said that a police van was sent to Tauheedabd post when they got information about presence of some suspected persons there. He said that three terrorists, riding a motorcycle, opened firing on the van. The official said that head constable Mukhtiar Khan and constable Shah Saud were killed while constable Khalid sustained serious bullet injuries in the attack. He said that a terrorist was also killed in the encounter.

The injured policeman was admitted to Lady Reading Hospital where doctors declared his condition constable. The official said that the killed attacker was identified as Sajid, a resident of Dir district. His two accomplices managed to escape, he added.

Talking to journalists after the funeral prayers of the killed policemen at Malik Saad Khan Police Lines, Inspector General of Police Nasir Khan Durrani said that despite darkness of night police were hotly pursing the miscreants which indicated their valour and courage.

He said that police were on routine patrolling in Tauheedabad at about 2:20am when local people informed them about the presence of three terrorists in the area. The police mobile instantly rushed to the area to chase the miscreants, he added.

The IGP said that police also recovered hand grenade and arms from the killed terrorist. He that in the backdrop of North Waziristan operation, security was beefed up and police were covering each and every road and place. He said that police would continue its fight till elimination of the last terrorist.

To a question about provision of helmets to police, Mr Durrani said that government was fulfilling the demand of the force on priority basis. He said that 1,500 helmets would be handed over to police by the end of this month.

The funeral prayers of both policemen were offered with full official honour. IGP Nasir Khan Durrani, MPA Shaukat Ali Yusufzai, Additional IGP Mian Mohammad Asif and other high ranking officers laid floral wreaths on the coffins and attended the funeral prayers.

BLAST: Unidentified terrorists lobbed a hand grenade at the residence of Pakistan Peoples Party leader Misbahuddin Khan at Amin Colony in the limits of Bala Manri police station.

The blast caused damage to the house of PPP leader and several nearby houses. However, there was no report about loss of human life. The blast was heard in different parts of the city and caused panic among the people.

The PPP leader said that he had no enmity and did not nominate anyone in the FIR.

Published in Dawn, July 11th, 2014