Suicide Attack in North-West Pakistan

The death toll from a suicide bomb attack on a security post in Northwest Pakistan rose to 14 police officers, according to the authorities. A self-proclaimed breakaway group of the Pakistan Taliban has claimed the attack.

A suicide and several gunmen detonated an explosives-laden vehicle near the post in Bannu bordering Afghanistan, late Saturday, said senior police official. The attack triggered an extreme shootout, and some officers were killed in the exchange, while others died later after the building collapsed.

The Police officials said the martyred Police officers fought well to defend the check post.

Rescuers had an hours long search operation using heavy machinery to retrieve bodies from under the rubble, three police officers were wounded in the attack brutally.

Hundreds gathered Sunday at the police headquarters in Bannu to attend the funerals of the slain officers. Uniformed colleagues stood in silence as coffins draped in the national flag were carried past grieving families. Some relatives broke down upon seeing the coffins under strict security measures.

Security forces have launched an operation to track down the perpetrators with the use of latest technological tools and are working day and night to trace down the invader’s.

A newly formed militant group, Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement sent to media groups. While the group claims it was formed by splinter factions of the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, authorities have accused it of being a front for the TTP.

President Asif Ali Zardari said, “These are the extremist elements hiding in Afghanistan in safe heavens and spreading hatred and terrorism in Pakistan” He vowed to take the extremist forces down as soon as possible to keep maintaining Peace with the efforts of the Armed Forces who have fought a long war against all sort of intruders and kept Pakistan safe from all kind of evil forces.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also condemned the attack with a prayer for the martyred police officers.

International observers call it an attack from the enemies of Pakistan, at such a crucial stage when Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has changed World’s perspective drastically in favor of Pakistan being the mediator between US and Iran and a key role player at Geo-Political level, this is a negative effort. The Observer’s added World has seen Pakistan’s Military Power and strategy and these negative actions by the enemy will not stop Pakistan from progressing and emerge as a Peaceful, United and Educated Nation in the World.

The locals appeal the Armed Forces to nip the evil in the bud like always, the people after the funeral gathered and chanted slogans in favor of Armed Forces as well.