Seven police personnel, including a station house officer, were martyred when an improvised explosive device (IED) targeted a police patrol vehicle in the Bettani subdivision of Lakki Marwat District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Friday, police officials said.
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According to the spokesperson for the district police officer, the squad from Shadikhel Police Station was on routine patrol along the Shahdikhel–Mastikhel road when the explosion occurred.
Officials said militants had planted the IED along the roadside to target the law enforcement vehicle. Six policemen — including the station house officer and five constables — were killed instantly in the blast.
The injured officer was shifted to a hospital but later succumbed to his wounds, raising the death toll to seven.
Security forces rushed to the area after the attack and launched a search operation to track down the attackers.
Asif Ali Zardari strongly condemned the incident in a statement issued by the Presidency, expressing grief over the loss of lives and offering prayers for the fallen officers. He also wished a speedy recovery to the injured and reaffirmed the government’s determination to eliminate terrorism.
The incident comes amid a rise in militant violence in the province. According to the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), fatalities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa increased significantly last year, rising from 1,620 in 2024 to 2,331 in 2025 — an increase of more than 40 percent.
Last month, nine police personnel, including a deputy superintendent, were martyred in separate militant attacks in Bhakkar District in Punjab and the KP areas of Kohat and Wana. Days earlier, three members of the Federal Constabulary were also killed in a terrorist attack in Karak.
Authorities say operations are ongoing to curb militant activity across the province.
