• Passerby also loses life as IED blast targets SHO, five policemen in Tank
• Elite Force constable, cousin slain in D.I. Khan shooting
• Three cops injured in Lakki attack; four terrorists killed in Bannu, Lakki operations

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: At least nine people — seven police officials and two civilians — lost their lives in terrorist attacks in Tank and Dera Ismail Khan districts, officials said on Monday.

A police official said SHO Gomal police station Ishaq Ahmad Khan, five other policemen were martyred when an improvised explosive device (IED) targeted an armoured personnel carrier (APC) in Tank’s Gomal area, about 25km from Kot Wali. He added the powerful explosion completely destroyed the police vehicle and also claimed the life of a passer-by.

Rescue 1122 teams rushed to the scene soon after the incident and shifted the bodies and injured to nearby hospitals.

The martyred police personnel were identified as SHO Ishaq Ahmad Khan, Assistant Sub-Inspector Sher Aslam Khan, driver Abdul Majeed, Arshad Ali, Hazrat Ali, and Ehsan­ullah, who served as driver.

Police said the passer-by who was critically injured in the blast later succumbed to his injuries, raising the death toll to seven. The identity of the civilian victim could not be immediately ascertained.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi sought a report from senior officials regarding the attack on Tank police. He expressed deep condolences to the families of the martyrs and their colleagues.

Cop, his cousin martyred

Separately, an Elite Police Force constable was martyred alongside his cousin, in a gun attack in Paharpur tehsil of Dera Ismail Khan, police said.

According to the officials, the incident occurred on Kathgarh Road within the jurisdiction of Paharpur police station. Elite force constable Ismatullah and his cousin Amir died on the spot, while the attackers managed to flee.

Police reached the spot and shifted the bodies to a nearby hospital for medico-legal formalities.

Three cops injured in Lakki blast

Meanwhile, three policemen, including an SHO, were injured when an APC was targeted with an improvised explosive device on the Lakki-Darra Tang Section of the busy Bannu-Mianwali Road on Monday.

A police official said the bomb attack occurred near Jabbarkhel within the limits of Saddar police station and added that the injured policemen were out of danger.

According to a police statement, Lakki Marwat DPO Nazir Khan visited the site, assessed the situation, and ordered a search operation in the area.

The district police chief said that such cowardly acts could not lower the morale of the police force. He said that Lakki Marwat police were responding vigorously to every challenge and were ready to render any sacrifice for the protection of the public.

The DPO asserted that police were resolutely tackling Fitna al Khawarij and added that security had been further increased in the area.

Two terrorists killed in Lakki

Two terrorists were killed in a clash with security forces and police in the Kaichi Kamar area of Lakki Marwat district on Monday.

A police official confirmed the development and said that the security forces and police jointly launched an intelligence-based operation after receiving information about the presence of Fitna al Khawarij in the trans-river belt.

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

“During the operation, an intense exchange of fire took place, resulting in the neutralisation of two terrorists”, the official maintained.

The slain terrorists were identified as Sheryar alias Sheri and Irfan alias Paan. Police said they were wanted by law enforcement agencies in several terrorism-related cases, including attacks on law enforcement personnel, targeted killings, and IED blasts.

Two killed in Bannu IBO

In Bannu, the Counter-Terrorism Department, in coordination with local police, carried out an intelligence-based operation (IBO), which left two militants dead.

According to police, following an exchange of fire on Jhandokhel Road near Shagi Machankhel, two terrorists were found dead. They were identified as Sohail Khan alias Sangri and Ismail alias Usman.

Police said both were involved in attacks on Sheikh Landik and Fateh Khel police posts, in which eight police constables were injured. They were also involved in attacks on security forces’ convoys and an IED attack on the under-construction Rescue 1122 building.

Attack foiled

In another incident, militants attacked the Nala Kasho police post. However, the attack was foiled due to timely retaliation by police personnel.

Bannu DPO Yasir Afridi later distributed awards among the personnel who repulsed the attack.

Published in Dawn, January 13th, 2026