An official of Pakistan's Frontier Constabulary (FC) was killed in a targeted blast on Peshawar's Warsak Road on Monday, while eight others, including two civilians, were wounded. The blast occurred near Peshawar's Prime Hospital complex, said police.
According to Dawn, Warsak Superintendent of Police (SP) Mohammad Arshad Khan said that a vehicle of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa FC's Mohmand Rifles regiment was targeted in the attack on Monday morning.
The blast was carried out using an improvised explosive device (IED) on the vehicle that was bound towards Peshawar from Machni area, Khan said.
The SP added that further investigation into the matter was underway and a report would be compiled by the Bomb Disposal Unit that would shed further light on the nature of the blast. The injured personnel have been shifted to a military hospital.
Peshawar Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Syed Ashfaq Anwar said the explosion prima facie did not appear to be a suicide bombing amd that there is a possibility of explosives being planted along the roadside, reported Geo News.
A "strict checking" has been initiated at all entry and exit routes to the city and asserted that the provincial government would “not let anti-state elements succeed in their nefarious designs”, Anwar further said.
Caretaker Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mohammad Azam Khan condemned the incident and hoped for the speedy recovery of the injured. He has also directed hospital authorities to provide medical aid to the wounded.
"Strongly condemn the cowardly attack on FC Officials' vehicle in Peshawar earlier today," said former Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
The attack comes a day after interim Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti downplayed the increase in militancy in the country by saying that a 'little' surge in terrorism is no reason for panic, despite reports of daily fightings between security forces and terrorists.
ALSO READ | Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan calls India ‘greatest trading partner’ in big jolt to Pakistan
