Peshawar, March 6 At least one person was killed and 19 injured, including two security personnel, in a suicide attack at a checkpost in a civilian area in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in northwestern Pakistan on Friday, police said.
The suicide attack occurred on the Bannu–Miranshah main road in the North Waziristan district when the bomber drove a vehicle laden with explosives into the Chashma Checkpost.
Hospital authorities said that 19 injured people have been brought to the hospital, and the condition of four is critical.
Police said that militants belonging to Fitna al-Khawarij targeted the civilian population by detonating a vehicle filled with explosives near a populated area.
Fitna-al-Khawarij is a term used by the state for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Security forces immediately reached the scene, cordoned off the area, and launched a search operation to track down those involved.
Sohail Afridi, Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has taken notice of the suicide attack at the Chashma Check Post in Miranshah, North Waziristan, and strongly condemned the incident.
The chief minister has sought a detailed report on the incident from the Inspector General of Police.
In a statement, Sohail Afridi expressed concern over the injuries sustained by civilians in the explosion at Miranshah’s Chashma Check Post, calling the incident deeply unfortunate.
He directed the authorities to ensure the provision of the best possible medical treatment to the injured.
The chief minister said that medical staff at the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital in Miranshah and Rescue 1122 have been placed on high alert.
Afridi further stated that cowardly acts of terrorism cannot undermine the resolve of the government and the people.
He reaffirmed that all necessary measures would continue to be taken to ensure the protection of the lives and property of the public.
Recent operations by Pakistani security forces against Afghan militant elements along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border have forced them into retreat.
In an attempt to avenge their losses, the militants are now allegedly resorting to attacks on innocent civilians through Khawarij-linked terrorists.
Authorities have vowed that the nefarious designs of such elements will not be allowed to succeed, and that operations will continue until the complete elimination of the militants.
