KARACHI: At least nine people were killed in a terrorist attack on divisional headquarters of police in southwestern Balochistan province of Pakistan on Tuesday.
The attack on the office of the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police at Loralai also left nineteen others wounded, with some in critical condition, reported local authorities.
“Four police personnel and a cook have been martyred in the attack,” senior superintendent of police Hussain Khosa told Arab News.
However, DIG Nisar Ahmed Khan and other senior police officials remained unhurt, he informed.
“DIG Nisar is with me and safe,” the official said. The deceased, he informed, are identified as Sadiq Ali, Ghulam Muhammad, and Javed Ahmed, Rehmatullah -- all four police personnel -- and a cook Amir Zaman.
Khosa said the attackers first opened fire, which was followed by an explosion. “The nature of the blast is yet to be ascertained,” the official said.
Balochistan Home Minister Mir Zia Lango told media that one of four attackers blew himself up at the gate. “Two of the terrorists have also been killed in the firing,” he said.
Dr. Faheem Kakar, a medicolegal official at city’s civil hospital, told Arab News that of the injured brought in, two civilians who were in critical condition were immediately shifted to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Loralai.
This is the second attack on law enforcement agency in the district in a month.
On January 1, 2019, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), media wing of the Pakistan’s Army, said four security personnel were martyred during an exchange of fire with terrorists when they stormed the residential and administration compound inside a Frontier Corps (FC) training center.
Chief Minister Balochistan, Jam Kamal Khan, condemned the attack and said fight against terrorism will be taken to its logical end. A statement issued from CM House also said the CM has ordered to tighten security of the Loralai city.
One the attacker had blown himself during the attack.
“The valiant and timely action of security forces denied entry of terrorists into [the] residential area which would have resulted into more number of casualties,” read the ISPR statement.
As the terrorist attacks and number of killings significantly dropped down in other three provinces, a surge was seen in Balochistan where 407 people died in terrorist and other violent incidences in 2018.
Law enforcement agencies are fighting terrorists in different zones of the province, which has got importance due to the multi-billion dollar China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).