By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: At least four people, including a policeman and a paramilitary soldier, were killed and dozens injured in suspected militant attacks in Pakistan’s northwestern and southwestern regions on Friday, officials said.
One person was killed and 27 injured when gunfire broke out at a protest rally in the northwestern city of Bannu.
The rally, attended by over 10,000 people, was demanding peace in the area after a recent surge in militant attacks, including a terrorist attack on the Bannu Cantonment that left eight military personnel martyred.
KP government spokesperson Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif said the protest escalated and turned unpleasant, resulting in gunfire. “Consequently, some people were killed and some were injured,” Saif said, without providing details on the number of casualties or those responsible.
The government has imposed a health emergency in Bannu, and an investigation into the incident has been ordered. Compensation has also been announced for those killed and injured.
“The (provincial) chief minister has instructed that a transparent investigation be conducted into the incident and that exemplary punishment be imposed on those found responsible for unlawful actions and causing instability.”
Rights organizations Amnesty International and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan condemned the incident, calling for a transparent investigation and accountability for those responsible.
Separately, two people were killed and four others wounded when a bomb targeted a militant commander in the South Waziristan tribal district, according to police.
“A bomb exploded near Maulvi Noor Muhammad mosque this morning, leaving two persons dead and four injured,” Fareed Wazir, a police officer in the town of Wana, said.
A policeman was killed and two others injured when unidentified gunmen opened fire on a police check-post in the Bhai area of KP’s Mardan district.
In neighboring Balochistan, one Frontier Corps (FC) paramilitary soldier was killed and four were injured in an IED blast in the Buleda area of Kech district.
Islamabad blames the recent surge in attacks on militants mainly from the TTP operating out of neighboring Afghanistan. Kabul denies the allegations.
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