Four security personnel were among seven individuals martyred in two separate shooting incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Karak district and Peshawar city, marking yet another tragic day in Pakistan’s ongoing battle against terrorism. Officials confirmed the incidents on Wednesday as condemnations poured in from the highest provincial offices.
The first and deadliest incident occurred in Karak’s Garagri area, where unidentified gunmen ambushed a vehicle belonging to the Federal Constabulary (FC). The attack claimed the lives of four security personnel, including the driver. Authorities described the assault as a targeted strike against the FC convoy, which was travelling through the region when it came under heavy gunfire from unknown assailants.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur strongly condemned the attack and directed law enforcement agencies to apprehend those responsible without delay. Expressing his condolences, Gandapur stated, “We salute the security personnel and their families who sacrificed their lives for the country and the nation.” A statement from the Chief Minister’s Office reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to standing with the bereaved families and ensuring that justice is served.
Governor Faisal Kundi also denounced the attack, terming it a brutal assault on the nation’s frontline defenders. “The sacrifice of those martyred in the war against terrorism will not go in vain,” he said in a public statement.
The second incident took place late Tuesday night in Peshawar’s Warsak Road area. Police inspector Ali Hussain was travelling in a car with two friends when four attackers on two motorbikes opened fire on their vehicle, killing all three occupants on the spot.
According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations Masood Ahmed, both a pistol and a submachine gun (SMG) were used in the attack. Authorities have begun an investigation, and geofencing efforts are underway to trace the assailants.
Governor Kundi condemned this second act of violence as well, calling it “unfortunate and inhumane” and extending his sympathies to the victims’ families.
These latest incidents come amid a worrying rise in terror-related attacks in Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. The security situation has deteriorated since the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a banned militant outfit, unilaterally ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022.
Just last month, another police official was martyred in Karak’s Koh-i-Maidan area near the borders of Lakki Marwat and Mianwali districts. That attack, like many others, ended with the attackers fleeing into the mountainous terrain, evading immediate capture.
The persistent violence has raised serious concerns over the state’s ability to safeguard both civilians and law enforcement personnel. Security agencies remain on high alert as the fight against militancy continues.
