FC official martyred, 8 wounded as Mohmand Rifles vehicle targeted in Peshawar

SP Arshad Khan confirmed that a vehicle of Mohmand Rifles Regiment was targeted at 10:30am

PESHWAR (Dunya News) – A Frontier Constabulary (FC) official was martyred while eight others, including two civilians, suffered injuries in a blast near Prime Hospital Complex on Warsak Road on Monday morning. 

Warsak Superintendent of Police (SP) Mohammad Arshad Khan confirmed that a vehicle of Mohmand Rifles Regiment was targeted around 10:30am.

The vehicle was on its way to Peshawar from Machni when it was targeted. One FC official was martyred while six officials and two civilians were injured, SP Khan added.

He said the blast was carried out using an improvised explosive device (IED). A report by the Bomb Disposal Unit would clarify the nature of the blast, he continued.

Further investigation was under way, stated SP Khan.

The incident happened a day after interim Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti downplayed the rise in militancy in the country saying it was “a little surge [in terrorism] and nothing to panic”.

It may be recalled that during the last couple of weeks, there were reports of almost daily skirmishes between the security forces and terrorists, the most recent being the infiltration attempt in Chitral in which over a dozen attackers were killed while several troops martyred.

نگران وفاقی وزیر داخلہ سرفراز احمد بگٹی کی پشاور ورسک روڈ پر سکیورٹی فورسز کی گاڑی کے قریب دھماکے کی شدید مذمت، شہید ہونے والے سکیورٹی اہلکار کے بلند درجات کے لئے دعا گو ہیں، شہید سکیورٹی اہلکار کے اہل خانہ کے غم میں برابر کے شریک ہیں. وزیر داخلہ

— Ministry of Interior GoP (@MOIofficialGoP) September 11, 2023

Last week, a convoy of security forces was targeted on Miramshah Road in Bannu. In August, police and security forces repulsed three attacks by militants at as many locations in an area bordering Kohat district.

PML-N president and former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif also condemned the “cowardly attack”.

Strongly condemn the cowardly attack on FC officials’ vehicle in Peshawar earlier today; that resulted in the Shahadat of one FC official and injured others including some civilians. The sacrifices of our valiant soldiers and resilient people will not go in vain and such…

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) September 11, 2023

“The sacrifices of our valiant soldiers and resilient people will not go in vain and such terrorist attacks cannot stop us from completely getting rid of the militants,” he said.

KP CM condemns incident

Caretaker KP Chief Minister Mohammad Azam Khan condemned the incident and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.

In his statement, he directed hospital authorities to provide the injured with the best possible medical aid.

The chief minister said such incidents won't demoralise the security forces and that the entire nation was standing with the security forces.