SOUTH WAZIRISTAN/KOHAT/LAKKI MARWAT: Three police officials were martyred in gun attacks in Lower South Waziristan, Hangu and Lakki Marwat districts on Tuesday, the police said.

Lower South Waziristan district police officer Asif Bahadur said that Muharir Imran Wazir was targeted by armed men near Tora Gola area of Azam Warsak when he was returning home on leave from Wana Police Lines.

He further said that the police had initiated an investigation into the incident, and efforts were being made to apprehend the assailants.

Meanwhile, an official of the district security branch in Hangu was martyred when unknown assailants riding a motorcycle attacked him on Darwazai Palosa Road on Tuesday.

The deceased, identified as Maqbool Akbar belonging to Charsadda district, was targeted by two armed motorcyclists, who managed to flee after the murder. A search operation was launched for their arrest.

Later, the funeral prayers of the martyred official were offered at the Hangu Police Lines.

The funeral prayers were attended by regional police officer, Kohat, Abbas Majeed Marwat, district police officer Mohammad Khalid, deputy commissioner Gohar Zaman and prominent political and social elders.

Police officers laid floral wreaths at the coffin and prayed for the departed soul. A police official told Dawn that the martyred cop was coming to duty when he was targeted.

Separately, a police official was martyred and another sustained bullet injuries when terrorists attacked them in Miralam Manjiwala area of Lakki Marwaton Tuesday night.

An official said on the basis of initial information that both the cops, identified as Ihsanullah and Rafiullah, were seriously wounded in the gun attack. He said the attack occurred in the limits of the city police station.

He said the injured were transported to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital in Serai Naurang town, where Ihsanullah succumbed to injuries. He said the martyred policeman and his wounded colleague belonged to Miralam Manjiwala area.

“The attackers fled the place while a large police contingent reached the area and launched a search for them,” he maintained.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2025