DERA ISMAIL KHAN/LAKKI MARWAT: Six cops were martyred on Monday as police vehicles were targeted in two separate incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Tank and Lakki Marwat districts.

“Six policemen were martyred in the IED blast,” said a statement from the Tank police spokesperson, adding that their armoured personnel carrier (APC) was targeted within the jurisdiction of the Gomal police station.

“The blast occurred while the APC was on its way to Tank from the Gomal police station,” the statement added.

The martyred included an additional station house officer (SHO), the police spokesperson said.

The bodies were taken to the Tank District Headquarters Hospital by Rescue 1122. Police have sealed off the area and a “massive” security operation was underway, state-run APP reported.

Separately, another IED blast took place near Darra Tang road in Lakki Marwat, which injured three police personnel, according to APP.

According to a police statement, which did not specify the number of the wounded, a SHO and “police personnel were slightly injured and are now out of danger”.

“Fitna al Khwarij targeted the police APC with an IED explosion while they were patrolling near Jabar Khel on Darra Tang Road within the jurisdiction of the Saddar police station.

Fitna al Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Subsequently, Lakki Marwat District Police Officer (DPO) Nazir Khan reached the site of the incident and assessed the situation. A search operation was then launched in the area, the police statement said.

It quoted DPO Nazir as saying, “These cowardly acts cannot lower our morale. The Lakki Marwat police are responding vigorously to every challenge and are ready to give every possible sacrifice for the public’s protection.”

The officer asserted that the police were resolutely tackling Fitna al Khwarij, adding that security has been increased in the area.

PM Shehbaz orders probe into Tank attack

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered an “immediate investigation” into the incident and directed that those responsible be brought to justice at the earliest, according to state-run Radio Pakistan.

The premier reaffirmed the government’s commitment to completely eradicate terrorism from the country.

President Asif Ali Zardari also expressed his deep grief over the martyrdom of police personnel in the “terrorist attack”, a statement from his office said.

He paid tribute to the cops’ “bravery and their passion to serve the country”. The president prayed for the martyrs’ elevated ranks and for patience for their families.

KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi sought an immediate report from the top police officials on the incident, a statement from his office said.

He expressed his deep grief and anger, conveying his condolences to the bereaved families of the martyrs.

“The brave men of KP police embraced martyrdom to protect the lives and property of the people,” Kundi was quoted as saying, adding that he was proud of the martyrs.

“These actions by Indian-backed Fitna al Khwarij cannot dampen our morale,” the governor asserted.

The KP governor urged the PTI-run provincial government to “take practical steps to ensure peace in the province”.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also strongly condemned the attack and hailed the sacrifices of “five policemen”.

“The courageous men of the police sacrificed their today for the nation’s peaceful tomorrow,” Naqvi was quoted as saying by his ministry.

“The great sacrifices of the martyrs will always be remembered,” he added.

National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, in a statement condemning the blast, expressed deep sorrow over the martyrdom of six police personnel.

The NA speaker paid rich tribute to the sacrifices of the law enforcement agencies in the fight against terrorism.

“The martyrdom of police officials is an irreparable loss,” he said, adding that the entire nation was proud of its brave sons who stood against terrorism.

The speaker also prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.

“The nation stands shoulder to shoulder with its security forces in the fight against terrorism,” Sadiq affirmed.

Recent attacks on LEAs

Law enforcement personnel have increasingly come under attack in KP in recent weeks.

On January 10, a Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) official was martyred by unidentified motorcyclists in Peshawar, while another CTD official was gunned down in Bannu.

The day before, a policeman was martyred after gunmen attacked him in the Bajaur tribal district, while another died in Khyber when gunmen ambushed a car.

Three cops were injured in Bannu on January 8 as a police vehicle transporting prisoners to Hangu came under attack by “terrorists”. Also in Bannu, a former tehsil nazim was injured in a bomb blast outside his office on January 6.

Last month in December, five policemen were martyred when a police vehicle was ambushed in KP’s Karak district. Eight terrorists were killed in an operation launched to hunt down the attackers.

On December 1, a head constable lost his life and five cops were injured in Lakki Marwat when a suicide bo­mber targeted a police vehicle. The same day, a police constable was gunned down by terrorists in Bannu.