LAKKI MARWAT: Two terrorists were killed and four police personnel, including a senior officer of the counter-terrorism department (CTD), martyred during a fierce gun battle in Karak on Thursday.
In a statement, a police official said that the gunfight erupted when the police conducted a search and strike operation in the Charpira area of the southern district.
He said that the terrorists had set up a blockade on Charpira Road within the jurisdiction of the Khurram police station on Wednesday night.
“Following this incident, the police launched a search and strike operation against terrorists at noontime,” he said.
The official said that the deputy superintendent of police of Banda Daud Shah and the deputy superintendent of the counter-terrorism department led the operation wherein the personnel of the Bomb Disposal Unit (BDU), a drone team, Rescue 15 and the Rapid Response Force (RRF) took part.
“During the operation, the law enforcers raided the hideout of terrorist commander Qaiser Iqbal where an exchange of fire took place between the police and the terrorists,” he claimed.
The official said that two terrorists were killed in the encounter, while CTD DSP Imranuddin Khan, SHO of Latambar police station Afzal Awan, constable Kazim (gunman to the CTD DSP) and BDU official Amjad were martyred while fighting valiantly.
”The operation is currently under way, with the SP (Operations), all SHOs of the district and relevant police officers actively engaged in it,” he said.Meanwhile, the funeral prayers for four police personnel were offered with full official honours.
It was attended by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Zulfiqar Hameed, Additional IG CTD Jawad Qamar, RPO Kohat Shakir Hussain Dawar, Commissioner Kohat Parvez Khan Sabt Khel, SSP Operations CTD Najamul Hasnain, Deputy Commissioner Karak Hamid Iqbal, DPO Karak Niaz Muhammad, other high-ranking civil and military and police officers, the families of the martyrs, and people from various walks of life.
A contingent of the police presented a final salute to the martyrs, while high-ranking officers paid tribute to them by laying floral wreaths on their coffins.
The attendees honoured the supreme sacrifices offered by the martyrs, prayed for the elevation of their ranks, and sought patience for the bereaved families.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa IGP Zulfiqar Hameed paid tributes to the bravery, sense of duty, and professional commitment of the martyrs.
He stated that the valiant personnel of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police laid down their lives while confronting terrorists with great courage.
Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2026
