PESHAWAR: At least 21 people, including 15 police officials, were martyred on Friday when an explosives-laden vehicle detonated near a mosque in Kohat Police Lines, followed by terrorists storming the compound and attacking police facilities, according to senior police and district health officials.
District Health Officer Dr Nasir Hassan Afridi confirmed the toll to Dawn, adding that more than 100 people were injured, with three in critical condition.
According to officials, SP Traffic Akbar Shinwari and Dr Israel Orakzai, head of the children’s department at DHQ KDA Kohat, were among those martyred in the attack.
Police said at least one attacker was holed up inside the compound and a clearance operation was underway.
In a separate statement, the CTD said the Additional IG CTD reached the site of the Kohat attack.
An exchange of fire between CTD personnel and the terrorist was ongoing, the department said, adding that the AIG had entered the police lines to take part in the operation and lead the personnel.
Later in the evening, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General (IG) Zulfiqar Hameed visited the police lines as the clearance operation continued. According to a statement, the IGP met GOC Kohat, the regional police officer, the district police officer Kohat and other officers and personnel present at the site.
The attack
According to IG Hameed and police statements, the attack began when a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) detonated at the boundary wall near the mosque inside the Kohat Police Lines.
At least seven attackers then breached the compound and headed towards the CTD and Special Branch buildings. Six attackers, including a suicide bomber, were killed by law enforcers, according to a police statement.
At least one attacker was subsequently cornered, prompting police personnel to launch a clearance operation. At around 3:30pm, police said the operation was “in its final stages”.
“The operation will continue until the complete elimination of Fitna-ul-Khawarij,” the IG was quoted as saying, adding that the police’s morale remained high.
Fitna al Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.
Earlier, television footage from the scene showed citizens gathered beside a building with a collapsed wall, digging through the rubble and helping the injured. The blast caused extensive damage to the mosque.
The attack was claimed by the Hafiz Gul Bahadur-led Ittehadul Mujahideen.
Separately, KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi sought a detailed report on the incident, saying the targeting of innocent citizens was “deeply regrettable and unacceptable,” as per a statement issued by his office.
He directed authorities to ensure immediate treatment for the injured. “The nation’s morale cannot be dampened by cowardly acts of terrorism,” he was quoted as saying.
The funeral prayers for 15 police personnel martyred in the Police Lines blast were offered in Kohat later in the evening, after which their bodies were transported to their native districts of Kohat, Karak, Lakki Marwat, Bannu and Mardan in Rescue 1122 ambulances.
In 2010, 20 people, mostly the relatives of policemen, were killed and more than 90 injured in a remote-controlled bomb blast inside a police colony located just behind the Kohat Police Lines.
Condemnations pour in
President Asif Ali Zardari, condemning the incident, vowed that the complete elimination of foreign-sponsored terrorists was “essential for national security”.
President Zardari wished the injured a swift recovery.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sought a report on the blast from the concerned authorities. He also directed authorities to expedite relief operations, Radio Pakistan reported.
KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi also condemned the blast, praying for the recovery of the injured.
“The entire nation stands with the security forces to eradicate terrorism,” he said in a statement.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said in his condemnation that terrorists’ “cowardly acts cannot weaken the nation’s resolve”.
A statement posted on his ministry’s X account said Naqvi expressed grief over the loss of lives in the attack and extended condolence to the bereaved.
“The nation is standing with the families of the martyrs in this moment of grief,” he was quoted as saying.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi also strongly condemned the suicide attack in Kohat and expressed his condolences over the deaths of police personnel and civilians.
In a video message, he said the people of KP had sacrificed more than 80,000 lives for Pakistan and continued to bear the brunt of the fight against terrorism.
“Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is Pakistan’s frontline province in the war against terrorism,” he said, adding that peace in Islamabad and the rest of the country was due to the sacrifices made by the people of the province.
He also criticised those who, he said, labelled the people of KP as terrorists, saying such remarks reopened their wounds and disrespected their martyrs.
Referring to comments by the chief minister of another province, Afridi said it was regrettable to suggest that the threat to Pakistan came from its other provinces rather than India. He said KP and the other provinces were patriotic and had made sacrifices for the country.
“Pakistan is our country, and we will not allow any conspiracy to succeed,” he said, adding that efforts to create division, prejudice and hatred among the people would be thwarted.
United Kingdom’s High Commissioner in Pakistan said she was “appalled by the horrific attack” in Kohat.
“Nobody should face violence in a place of worship“,” she said, adding that her thoughts were with those injured and those who lost loved ones in the attack.
China’s embassy in Pakistan said it was “deeply saddened” by the terrorist attack. It condemned the attack and added that it extends “deepest condolences to the deceased victims and sincere sympathies to the breaved families”.
Russia’s embassy in Pakistan also strongly condemned the attack.
“This terrible tragedy, which claimed numerous lives, once again underscores the need for concerted efforts to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. We hope that those responsible for this heinous act will be identified and brought to justice.”
The mission added that their hearts go out to the families and friends of the victims. “We wish a speedy recovery to all those injured.”
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