Deadly explosion at police lines kills 16 in Pakistan

An explosion at the Kohat police lines in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has killed at least 16 people. Five of the dead are police officers. More than 50 people were injured in the attack.

Mr. Zulfiqar Hameed, the Inspector General of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police, confirmed the incident. The report comes from Dawn news.

Television footage showed the wall of a building collapsing after the blast. Local residents gathered at the site. They helped clear the debris and rescue victims.

In his first statement, Mr. Hameed said the explosion took place at a mosque inside the Kohat police lines. Early reports suggested that a vehicle loaded with explosives had rammed into the building.

In a later statement, Mr. Hameed gave a different account. He said a suicide bomber set off explosives strapped to his body near the Special Branch building. Gunfire then broke out between police and militants from a group called “Fitna al Khawarij.”

Mr. Hameed said the operation will continue until the group is fully wiped out. He added that the morale of the police force remains strong.

The Pakistani government uses the term “Fitna al Khawarij” to refer to members of the banned Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan, also known as TTP.

Mr. Sohail Afridi, the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has asked for a detailed report on the incident. A statement from his office called the attack on innocent people deeply sad and unacceptable.

He has ordered the relevant authorities to make sure the injured receive quick treatment. He wants their care to be a top priority.

Mr. Faisal Karim Kundi, the Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, also condemned the explosion. He prayed for the quick recovery of those injured. In his statement, he said the whole nation stands united with the security forces in the fight against terrorism.