PESHAWAR/DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Fifteen people were martyred and more than 30 others injured when terrorists first rammed an explosives-laden tractor-trolley into the Aman Mela Police Checkpoint in Darazinda tehsil of Dera Ismail Khan district and then opened fire on ambulances carrying the victims, officials said on Saturday. Regional Police Officer (RPO), Dera, Ghulam Mubashir Maken, told the media that according to initial reports, 11 people were killed and 30 others injured in the attack.
Moreover, one rescue worker was martyred, and two others injured when unidentified attackers opened fire on Rescue 1122 ambulances carrying the bodies and injured victims of the blast, officials said. The RPO said the deceased included two women and a child. Officials said no police or security personnel were among those killed, adding that all the other victims were civilians.
Six police personnel were among the injured, they said. Of the 35 injured, 25 were referred to the District Headquarters Hospital, Dera Ismail Khan, for further treatment, while the remaining injured were being provided medical assistance at local health facilities. Local sources reported that 13 bodies had been brought to a nearby hospital, including those of seven men, two women and a child.
The casualty figures could not immediately be independently reconciled. The powerful explosion destroyed a large portion of the checkpoint and damaged or demolished nearby houses. Several people were reportedly trapped under the rubble.
Police and security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation following the attack. DPO Dera Ziauddin Ahmed and SP Saddar reached the site and supervised the rescue efforts. Sources identified some of those killed as Customs Assistant Sub-Inspector Farman Marwat, Muhammad Mehran of Wanda Mudat, Customs worker Muhammad Bilal, Masto Khan of Darazinda, Customs official Osama and Faisal Aziz of Darazinda.
In a nearby house destroyed in the blast, Jalal Khan, son of Rozi Khan, and his brother Najeebullah were injured. Jalal Khan's mother, Gul Maidanah Bibi, wife of Rozi Khan, his wife, Maqoo Bibi and his daughter, Gul Warina Bibi, were among those reported killed. Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari Saturday strongly condemned the bomb blast at a police checkpost in Dera Ismail Khan.
The president expressed deep sorrow and grief over the loss of innocent precious lives in the blast. The president expressed his heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the families of martyred persons and prayed that Allah Almighty elevate the ranks of martyrs and grant patience to the bereaved families. The president also prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the blast.
The president directed institutions concerned to provide the best medical facilities to the injured and make the relief operations more effective. Targeting innocent citizens and law enforcement officials in incidents of terrorism was highly condemnable, he added. He said operations against Fitna al-Hindustan and Fitna al-Khwarij terrorists, who were committing heinous and brutal acts under foreign patronage, should be made more effective.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif condemned the terrorist attack on police checkpost in Dera Ismail Khan. In a statement, he expressed deep sorrow and grief over the loss of precious human lives in the blast. He expressed heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the families of martyrs and prayed for speedy recovery of the injured.
"We will never let the sacrifices of the nation's protectors go in vain in the war against terrorism," he said adding the government was determined to completely eradicate terrorism from the country. Also, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi sought a report from senior officials about the attack on the Aman Mela checkpoint and directed the authorities to provide all possible medical facilities to the injured.
The governor condemned the attack and called for action against those responsible. In a post on X, Kundi said: "I strongly condemn the tragic blast near the Aman Mela police check-post in Darazinda, Dera Ismail Khan. My heart goes out to the families of the 11 people who lost their lives, and I pray for the swift and complete recovery of those injured." He said that at a time when Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was mourning, political priorities should reflect the pain of the people, adding that every life lost was a family's unbearable loss and every sacrifice demanded greater efforts to protect the people.
Chief Minister Sohail Afridi also strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Dera Ismail Khan and expressed deep grief over the loss of lives in the blast. In a video message issued from Peshawar, the chief minister said the incident was not an isolated one, adding that people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were once again losing their lives every day amid what he described as a new wave of terrorism.