LOWER SOUTH WAZIRISTAN: Two policemen were martyred and 31 people, including five policemen and 26 civilians, were injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in Rustam Bazaar area of Wana on Saturday.
According to police officials, the explosion occurred when police officers on routine patrol were present in the area around 5 p.m. They said that explosive material was placed near the main door of a supermarket, causing victims among police and civilians present at the scene.
Wana Circle Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Asghar Ali Shah said the explosive material had been placed at the main entrance of the supermarket and was detonated using a remote control or a timed device.
Immediately after the explosion, local residents, police and rescue teams launched relief operations and shifted the injured to the district central hospital.
The hospital’s medical superintendent, Dr Jan Mohammad, said the bodies of two policemen were brought to the centre. He said the injured included five other policemen, whom he identified as Station House Officer Saifullah, Sub-Inspectors Ali Muhammad and Muzammil, Deputy Sub-Inspector Momin Khan and Constable Lal Muhammad.
He added that 26 civilians were also injured, bringing the total number to 31. He added that the injured included the elderly, children and young people, and several of them were receiving immediate medical treatment. It is worth mentioning that an emergency was declared at the hospital to guarantee timely medical attention to the injured.
Meanwhile, DSP Shah said three of the injured policemen had been shifted to Peshawar Combined Military Hospital via air ambulance for further treatment.
The funeral prayers of the two martyred police officers, identified as Constables Mirza Alam and Gul Shah, were later offered with full official honors at the Wana police lines.
Lower South Waziristan Deputy Commissioner Musarrat Zaman and other officials attended.
On the other hand, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi took note and strongly condemned the incident. In a statement, the prime minister ordered the inspector general to submit a detailed report on the incident.
He also expressed grief for the victims of the incident and extended his deepest condolences to the bereaved families. He said the provincial government supported the families of the martyrs in their grief.
The Prime Minister also directed the relevant authorities to ensure immediate provision of the best possible medical facilities to the injured.
Afridi said such cowardly acts of terrorists cannot weaken the resolve of the people and the government.
The incident comes a day after a suspected drive-by suicide attack near Chashma Sarbandki checkpoint on Bannu-Miranshah highway in North Waziristan left one civilian dead and 19 people, including two security personnel, injured.
Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1979501/2-policemen-martyred-5-more-among-31-injured-in-ied-blast-in-kps-wana