SOUTH WAZIRISTAN (MNN); Two policemen were martyred and 31 people, including security personnel and civilians, were injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in the Rustam Bazaar area of Wana on Saturday evening.
Police officials said the explosion occurred around 5pm when a police patrol was present in the busy market area. The explosive device had reportedly been planted near the main entrance of a supermarket and was detonated either through a remote control or a timed mechanism.
According to Wana Circle Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Asghar Ali Shah, the blast caused casualties among both police personnel and civilians who were present at the site.
Rescue teams, local residents and police personnel immediately launched relief operations and shifted the injured to the District Headquarters Hospital.
Medical Superintendent Dr Jan Mohammad confirmed that the bodies of two policemen were brought to the hospital. Among the injured were five other policemen, including Station House Officer Saifullah, Sub-Inspectors Ali Muhammad and Muzammil, Assistant Sub-Inspector Momin Khan and Constable Lal Muhammad.
He said that 26 civilians were also injured in the explosion, including elderly people, children and young individuals. Several victims are receiving urgent medical treatment, while the hospital administration declared an emergency to ensure immediate care.
DSP Shah added that an additional station house officer was also among the injured and was shifted to the South Waziristan Scouts Hospital in critical condition.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi strongly condemned the incident and directed the Inspector General of Police to submit a detailed report. He expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and extended condolences to the families of the martyrs.
The chief minister also ordered authorities to provide the best possible medical treatment to the injured, stating that such cowardly terrorist acts could not weaken the resolve of the people or the government.
The blast occurred a day after a suspected vehicle-borne suicide attack near the Chashma Sarbandki check post on the Bannu–Miranshah Road in North Waziristan, which left one civilian dead and 19 others, including two security personnel, injured.
