Four policemen, including two senior officers, have been martyred while two terrorists have been killed during an exchange of fire in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP)’s Karak district, police have said.
According to a statement issued by the KP police on Thursday, law enforcement personnel launched a search and strike operation in the Charpara area around noon after terrorists set up a blockade there on Wednesday night.
The operation was led by Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) from Banda Daud Shah and the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD). Personnel from the Bomb Disposal Unit (BDU), a drone team, Rescue 15 and the Rapid Response Force also took part.
Police said that the personnel raided the hideout of terrorist commander Qaiser Iqbal during the operation, triggering an exchange of fire in which two terrorists were killed.
The officers martyred in the encounter were CTD DSP Imranuddin Khan, Latambar police Station House Officer (SHO) Sub-Inspector (SI) Afzal Awan, Constable Kazim and BDU Head Constable Amjad.
The police statement said that the operation was still underway.
Later, funeral prayers for the four personnel were offered with full official honours. The ceremony was attended by KP Inspector General of Police (IGP) Zulfiqar Hameed, CTD Additional Inspector General (AIG) Jawad Qamar, Kohat Regional Police Officer (RPO) Shakir Hussain Dawar, Kohat Commissioner Parvez Khan Sabt Khel, CTD Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP Operations) Najamul Hasnain, Karak Deputy Commissioner (DC) Hamid Iqbal and Karak District Police Officer (DPO) Niaz Muhammad.
Other senior civil, military and police officials, along with the families of the deceased personnel, also attended the funeral.
A police contingent presented a final salute as senior officers laid floral wreaths on the coffins. Those present offered prayers for the deceased and their families.
IGP Hameed paid tribute to the personnel, praising their courage and commitment to duty while confronting terrorists. He said that their sacrifices in protecting the public would serve as an example for the police force.
Earlier, KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi condemned the incident and expressed grief over the deaths.
“The sacrifices of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police in the fight against terrorism are unforgettable. The blood of our martyrs will not go to waste; our resolve against terrorism will be further strengthened, and the struggle for the establishment of peace will continue,” he said in a post on X.
