LAKKI MARWAT/SWABI: Ten policemen, who had embraced martyrdom in a suicide blast occurred at the Peshawar Police Lines’ mosque on Monday, were laid to rest in their native areas in Lakki Marwat, Bannu and Swabi on Tuesday with full official honour.

Five martyred policemen were laid to rest in Lakki Marwat, three in Bannu and two in Swabi.

The bodies of the martyred cops were dispatched to their home districts from Peshawar for burial.

Five policemen from Lakki Marwat, who embraced martyrdom in the suicide blast, included Frontier Reserve Police constables Mohammad Rafiq, Liaqat Ali Shah, Hanifullah and Sharifullah and Counter-Terrorism Department constable Kiramatullah.

Three martyred policemen belonging to Bannu included Shabeeb Khan, Nafid Khan and Junaid Gul. Police and civil administration officials and people from different walks of life attended the funeral prayers of the deceased policemen.

The entire region wore a blanket of gloom and sadness as the martyred policemen were lowered to their graves amid tearful eyes and moving scenes.

In Miranshah town of North Waziristan tribal district, Quran Khwani was held for the martyred cops at the police lines. District police officer Salim Riaz and other police officials were also present on the occasion.

In Swabi, the funeral prayers of the martyred constables – Mohammad Naeem and Pir Mohammad – were held in their native Shewa and Gadoon villages.

Leaders of various political parties, officials of police department, district administration and local people attended the funerals in large numbers.

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2023