A car bombing at a police post in the country’s northwestern region followed by an ambush on police personnel rushing to the scene has killed at least 14 officers, police said.
Images from after the attack on Saturday showed the structure had been reduced to rubble, with bricks, charred wreckage and mangled vehicles scattered around the area.
Police official Sajjad Khan said in a statement yesterday that the bodies of 14 officers had been recovered from the collapsed outpost and three other personnel were found alive and rushed to hospital.
A police official who asked not to be identified because he is not authorised to speak to the media said militants first rammed into the post with an explosive-filled car and then entered the premises and began firing on any remaining officers.
“Other law enforcement personnel were sent to help the police, but the terrorists ambushed them and caused some casualties,” he said.
Police sources said the extremists also used drones in the attack.
Ambulances from rescue agencies and civil hospitals rushed to the scene, with officials saying a state of emergency had been declared in government hospitals in Bannu.
Meanwhile, hundreds gathered at the police headquarters in Bannu yesterday to attend the funerals of the slain officers.
Uniformed colleagues stood in silence as coffins draped in the national flag were carried past grieving families.
Some relatives broke down upon seeing the coffins, as a Muslim cleric led funeral prayers under tight security. Security forces have launched an operation to track down the perpetrators.
A newly formed militant alliance known as the Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen claimed responsibility for the attack.
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the attack and offered condolences to the victims’ families yesterday.
He also instructed local authorities to assist the wounded and residents whose homes were damaged in the attack.
Zadari also said, “terrorists operating from sanctuaries in Afghanistan under the Taliban administration and supported externally are targeting civilians and law enforcement personnel in Pakistan.”
He also vowed to target “their facilitators and sponsors”.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also condemned the attack.
Tensions between the two neighbours have persisted, and both sides have engaged in fighting that has killed hundreds of people since late February.
In early April, Afghan and Pakistani officials held peace talks mediated by China. However, despite the talks, sporadic cross-border clashes have continued, though at a lower intensity than before. — Reuters/AP
