Two back to back attacks were reported in Dera Ismail Khan (D.I. Khan) on Sunday in which at least 9 were martyred. The police check post at Kotla Saidan was targeted with gunfire by unidentified men on 4 motorcycles on early Sunday morning (around 7:45 a.m.), soon after the attack, the injured were immediately being moved to the hospital where a suicide blast took place.
Six policemen and 3 civilians have reportedly been martyred in the twin attacks and over 30 casualties have been reported. Two policemen were identified as Constable Jahangir and Constable Inam. Later the incident, police, and FC took charge and cordoned off the area.
Initial investigations noted that the suicide blast was carried out by a woman in the late 20s, and around 8 to 10 kilograms of explosives along with nails and ball bearings were used for the attack. Due to the blast, District Teaching Hospital’s emergency suffered much damage and went non-operational, then then the injured were moved to Combined Military Hospital (CMH). Provincial Health Minister declared a medical emergency and ordered to provide the best treatment to the victims.
Spokesperson of banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Muhammad Khorasani took the responsibility of the attack and claimed that it made to avenge the killing of Taliban commander by the CTD in D.I. Khan earlier in June. However, he did not confirm the involvement of women in the attack.
Higher government officials including Prime Minister Imran Khan, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, National Assembly’s Opposition Leader Shehbaz Sharif, Chief Minister K.P. Mehmood Khan, Health Minister K.P. Hisham Inamullah Khan, Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, and others strongly condemned the attack and expressed their grief on the loss of precious lives. I.G. K.P Police Dr. Naeem Khan also claimed to bring the culprits to justice.
