Death toll from suicide bombing near police station in Swat rises to 17

SWAT: The death toll from Sunday’s suicide bombing near a police station in Swat rose to 17 on Monday, including several policemen.

The suicide bombing had taken place near the Kabal Police Station while a protest against lawlessness was under way at the adjoining public square. Police said that the suicide bomber had detonated his explosives after police personnel atte­mpted to stop and search him at the entrance to the police station.

According to a list of casualties shared by Swat police spokesperson Nasir Iqbal Karimi, seven policemen and 10 civilians have lost their lives in the incident while 18 policemen and nine civilians have been injured.

Police have revised down the death toll from an earlier tally of 19, which they shared in a statement earlier in the day.

Karimi said in the statement that a large-scale rescue operation had been launched immediately after the attack, in which more than 50 Rescue 1122 personnel participated.

“Rescue teams provided first aid at the scene before shifting the injured to various hospitals for further treatment. Authorities are continuing relief efforts as investigations into the suicide attack remain under way,” it said.

In a separate statement, Swat police said the funeral prayers of two policemen martyred in the suicide attack were held at Javed Iqbal Shaheed Police Lines on Monday.

A smartly turned-out police contingent presented a guard of honour to Constable Mukarram Khan and Constable Hussain Khan, and floral wreaths were laid on their coffins.

The ceremony was attended by Malakand Regional Police Officer (RPO) Syed Fida Hassan Shah, Swat District Police Officer (DPO) Muhammad Umar Khan, Superintendent of Police (operations) Ghulam Sadiq Khan, Superintendent of Police (headquarters) Ataullah, and other senior police officers.

Security personnel and law enforcers have been coming under attack in KP, which continues to face terrorism.

According to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies’ (PICSS) monthly security assessment released on Saturday, Security personnel deaths in terrorism incidents in KP, excluding merged districts, increased from 12 in June to 38 in July and terrorist deaths from 37 to 108, reflecting a rise by 192pc. But civilian deaths fell from 26 to seven, a decline by 73pc. One peace committee member was also killed.

Security personnel deaths in merged districts rose from six to 11 and terrorist deaths fell from 72 to 55. Civilian deaths, meanwhile, rose by 86pc, increasing from seven to 13.

CM visits Swat

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi reached Swat on Monday to meet with the martyrs’ families. He was accompanied by Special Assistant for Home Affairs Tariq Saeed, Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah and the KP inspector general (IG) of police, according to a statement issued by the CM office.

In Swat, he visited Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan Hospital in Saidu Sharif and inquired about the health of those injured in the suicide attack.

The chief minister directed the hospital administration to ensure the provision of the best possible medical treatment to all the injured, the statement said.

It added that the CM also chaired a high-level meeting at the Jirga Hall in Saidu Sharif. At the meeting, which was also attended by senior officials, the CM was briefed on the overall law and order situation in Malakand Division and its Swat district.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment to restoring peace, the chief minister said there would be no compromise on law and order in Swat and Malakand. He directed the relevant authorities to launch a full-scale operation against terrorists and ensure that peace and stability were restored.

Meanwhile, KP Inspector General of Police (IG) Zulfikar Hameed visited the injured personnel and civilians in the hospital, according to a post on the KP Police’s X account.

“Our police personnel have high morale. The cowardly attacks of terrorists will be given a befitting response,” he is quoted as saying.

Lawyers, traders observe strike

Lawyers across Swat and Upper Swat observed a complete strike on Monday to condemn Sunday’s suicide bombing. Court proceedings remained suspended as members of the legal fraternity expressed solidarity with the victims and called for stronger measures for eliminating terrorism.

A shutter-down strike was also observed across Kabal tehsil, where markets remained closed.

Separately, elders of the Swat Qaumi Jirga, traders, lawyers, and youth representatives have announced a protest demonstration at Nishat Chowk in Swat’s Mingora on August 7 to condemn the recent wave of terrorism in the region.

The organisers said the planned demonstration was aimed at expressing solidarity with the victims of terrorist attacks. It was being organised to demand lasting peace and urge the government to take decisive action against terrorist groups operating in the area, they said.