DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Seven people, including five Customs officials, were slain in an ambush during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Dera Ismail Khan, the department said in a statement.

A civilian and a minor girl were also killed in the attack, which took place within the remits of Daraban police station on Wednesday, according to local police.

The official statement issued by Customs said its officers from the Dir­ec­torate of Intelligence and Investigation (Pesha­war) were conducting an IBO when they were ambushed by unknown assailants at Daraban Road near the Sagguu village.

“All five officials embraced martyrdom,” the statement read.

As per the local police, the Customs officers were travelling in a vehicle when unknown armed assailants opened fire at it near the Sagguu area.

The driver lost control of the vehicle as a result of the indiscriminate firing and collided with another vehicle coming from the opposite direction.

The attackers managed to flee the scene before a heavy contingent of police and medical teams of Rescue 1122 arrived at the scene.

They shifted the bodies to District Head­quarters Teaching Hospital Dera Ismail Khan.

Rescue 1122 Spokes­person Aizaz Mehmood said the Customs officials have been identified as Muhammad Aslam, Akbar Zaman, Aniyat­ullah, Shohab Ali and Attar Alam. The other man was identified as Sifatullah, and the minor girl as Laiba Bibi.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur strongly condemned the incident, expressed regret and directed the police to arrest the culprits and bring them to justice, Dawn.com reported.

Published in Dawn, April 19th, 2024