2 policemen martyred in separate 'targeted attacks' in Bannu

BANNU: Two police constables lost their lives in separate incidents of targeted killings in Bannu district, officials said on Friday.

Police authorities termed both incidents acts of terrorism and have launched search operations to trace and arrest the perpetrators.

On Friday morning, Police Constable Mishqat Amir was returning home after attending a gathering at the Hamza Tablighi Centre when he came under attack on Bannu-Miranshah Road near Azad Mandi.

According to initial reports, unidentified armed assailants opened fire on him while he was on his way home. As a result of the attack, the constable sustained critical injuries and died on the spot.

In a separate incident that took place on Thursday night in Saidgi Baka Khel, Police Constable Muhammad Roshan, who belonged to the Wazeer sub-division police, was shot by unidentified gunmen outside his residence.

Police said that Roshan was serving at the North Waziristan Temporarily Displaced Persons (TDPs) Camp in Baka Khel and had returned home after completing his duties.

According to officials, the attackers opened fire on him while he was standing outside his house. He was seriously injured and immediately shifted to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. However, he succumbed to his injuries and embraced martyrdom.

Police authorities have classified both incidents as targeted killings linked to terrorism. Investigations are underway from multiple angles, while intelligence-based search operations have been launched in the respective areas to apprehend those responsible.

Police ranks and residents condemned the attacks and called for swift action against the perpetrators. Law enforcement officials reiterated their commitment to maintaining peace and bringing the attackers to justice.

Bannu district has been the scene of repeated security incidents in recent months, with both civilians and local security forces coming under attack amid a broader surge in militant violence.

Violence in Bannu has included attacks on police and jirga members, prompting targeted operations by police and security forces in various localities to disrupt militant networks.

Last month, the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) said in an assessment that after two consecutive months of improvement, Pakistan’s security situation had deteriorated sharply in May 2026, driven primarily by escalating terrorist violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

On May 9, a suicide attack in Bannu claimed the lives of 15 police personnel, after which Pakistan issued a “strong demarche” to Afghanistan.