MIANWALI: Police thwarted a terror attack on the Qabool Khel check post in Isakhel tehsil after a dozen armed men attacked it with rockets, rifles and grenades, leaving two policemen injured late on Sunday night.

Qabool Khel check post is situated on the boundary of Punjab and KP. Police said about 12 terrorists opened fire on the post “but our brave personnel on duty responded swiftly and after an hour-long exchange of fire, terrorists retreated and managed their escape in dark,” a police statement said.

A spokesperson for the Punjab police said, “12 to 14 Kharji terrorists took adv­antage of the darkness of the night to attack the Qab­ool Khel post with roc­kets and hand grenades.”

As a result of firing, two policemen suffered bullet injuries and were taken to the Mianwali District Headquarters Hospital.

A huge police contingent from Mianwali, headed by District Police Officer Akhter Farooq, reached the checkpoint to lend support to his force.

A combing operation around the checkpoint was in progress and “there was a possibility of heavy loss to fugitive terrorists,” the spokesperson said.

Police sources said the checkpoint staff was on alert following an intelligence warning of possible attack.

Sargodha Regional Police Officer Mohammad Shehzad Asif also reached Mianwali early on Monday and visited the DHQ Hospital to inquire after the health of injured policemen. He also visited the checkpoint.

Meanwhile, Punjab IGP Dr Usman Anwar praised the response by the Mianwali police to the terrorist attack.

“It was the 9th terrorist attack on Punjab police during the last few months and all attacks were successfully repelled,” the IGP said.

Mianwali has a long boundary with KP, with tribal area close to the provincial border.

To stop smuggling of drugs and illegal arms, Punjab police have set up a number of checkpoints in the area.

The Qabool Khel checkpoint was earlier attacked in February and that attack was also repulsed by the police.

Published in Dawn, September 3rd, 2024