PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police said on Saturday that an overnight clearance operation following the deadly two-pronged assault near a mosque in Kohat district’s old Police Lines had been completed, saying that a total of eight terrorists were killed.
Meanwhile, the death toll from the attack rose to 23, including 17 policemen and six civilians, police and CTD officials confirmed.
In an official handout, KP police said that eight terrorists were killed in retaliatory action by police and security forces.
It said that the operation had concluded, adding that Elite Force commandos, Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) teams, and security forces had cleared key parts of the buildings.
According to the statement, KP Inspector General (IG) Zulfiqar Hameed was present at the scene. It added that the operation was led by the CTD additional IG, the Kohat regional police officer and the Kohat district police officer. It said that the Kohat general officer commanding was also present.
“Law enforcement agencies achieved success following an overnight operation,” it said.
The statement said IG Hameed commended the officers who participated in the operation and announced rewards for them.
“Police, CTD, and security forces fought valiantly; these brave personnel are the pride of the nation,” he said.
“The terrorists’ nefarious designs have been thwarted, and we will ensure their complete elimination,” he said.
A CTD statement earlier said that its additional IG was injured in a grenade attack by terrorists during the operation. According to the statement, the terrorists had entered the Special Branch building after the suicide attack on the mosque.
The statement said the CTD additional IG had been on the frontline since Friday afternoon, supervising the ongoing operation against Fitna al-Khawarij along with police personnel.
The state uses the term Fitna al-Khawarij for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
It said the additional IG sustained a hand injury in a grenade attack carried out by the terrorists during the operation. After receiving first aid, he returned to the frontline to supervise the operation and boost the morale of the personnel, the statement added.
KP CM visits injured, bereaved families
At least 21 people — with the toll later rising to 23 — were martyred and over 100 were injured on Friday when an explosives-laden vehicle detonated near a mosque in Kohat’s old Police Lines, followed by terrorists storming the compound and attacking police facilities.
On Saturday, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi visited those injured in the blast and the families of those martyred, KP Information Minister Shafi Jan said.
CM Afridi directed the relevant authorities to provide the wounded with the best possible medical facilities, and extended his condolences to the bereaved families.
“He assured the affected families that the government stands with them and they will be provided with every possible support during this difficult time,” the statement said.
CM Afridi had sought a detailed report on the incident, saying the targeting of innocent citizens was “deeply regrettable and unacceptable”.
“The nation’s morale cannot be dampened by cowardly acts of terrorism,” he had said in a statement issued by his office following the blast.
The attack was claimed by the Hafiz Gul Bahadur-led Ittehadul Mujahideen.
Funeral prayers for 15 of the martyred police personnel were offered in Kohat on Friday evening, after which their bodies were transported to their native districts of Kohat, Karak, Lakki Marwat, Bannu and Mardan in Rescue 1122 ambulances.
Among the slain were SP Traffic Akbar Shinwari, head of the paediatric department at DHQ Hospital Dr Israel Orakzai, and Special Branch and CTD officials.
It may be recalled that in 2010, 20 people, mostly 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. The explosion had taken place in Ramazan during Iftar.
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