Five police officials martyred in Bajaur blast

ISLAMABAD: At least five police officials were martyred and 22 sustained injuries in a powerful blast from an improvised explosive device (IED) near a police vehicle in the Mamond Belot area of Bajaur Tehsil in Peshawar early Monday.

According to police, the policemen were on their way to provide security to polio vaccination teams when an IED planted on the roadside went off. As a result, two police officials were martyred while several got injured, the official news channel reported.

The injured were shifted to Khar Hospital where emergency has been declared.

Hospital sources said that the number of casualties might increase as the condition of some injured people was serious.

Security forces and political administration kicked off a search operation in the area.

Meanwhile, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Monday strongly condemned the terrorist attack on the police personnel assigned to provide security to the polio workers in Bajaur.

Paying tributes to the security personnel and the polio workers, the prime minster said the terrorist would never succeed in their nefarious designs.

PM Kakar offered his heartfelt condolence to the bereaved families, and prayed to Allah Almighty for the elevation of ranks of those martyred in the terrorist attack and early recovery of the injured.

The prime minister reiterated his resolve to continue the anti-polio campaign till complete eradication of the virus in the country.

He said the people should not listen to the propaganda against the polio vaccine as the world renowned Islamic scholars and Jamia Al-Azhar, Egypt has already endorsed the anti-polio programme.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Sherry Rehman condemned the attack on the police officials deployed for the security of the anti-polio team in Bajaur.

Taking to X, she said the PPP stands in solidarity with the families of the five personnel martyred in the explosion.

“Terrorists have attacked not only the police but also the health of our children. An attack on the security of the anti-polio team should not be tolerated under any circumstances, it is directly related to the health of our children,” she said.

Caretaker Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Syed Arshad Hussain Shah condemned the blast and expressed grief over the loss of lives. He also condoled with the victims’ families.

Shah directed the district administration to immediately provide health facilities to the injured.

“Such cowardly attacks will not dampen the police’s spirit. KP Police have given numerous sacrifices for the protection of people’s lives and properties,” he said, adding that the martyrs’ heirs would not be left alone and they would be assisted through every possible means.