The recent suicide attack outside Kabal police station in Swat has claimed at least seven lives and injured 20 others, according to reports from the Pakistan Police. The incident occurred when a lone bomber detonated explosives after attempting to stop and search him at the entrance of the police station.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Fida Hussain stated that four police officers were among those killed in the blast, with 20 people injured. Swat District Police Officer Umar Khan also confirmed the number of fatalities, adding that security forces have cordoned off the area and launched an investigation to collect further evidence.
The explosion occurred near the gate of Kabal Police Station while hundreds of people were participating in a public demonstration against recent wave of terrorism in the Swat Valley. The powerful blast caused multiple casualties, prompting an immediate emergency response by police, rescue teams, and local authorities.
The injured were shifted to nearby Saidu Sharif Teaching Hospital for treatment, while security personnel sealed off the area and launched a search operation. The protest had drawn a large crowd from across the district, triggering panic among participants. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Addressing the gathering before the blast, speakers condemned the resurgence of terrorism in Swat and demanded that the government ensure lasting peace. They stressed that maintaining law and order and eradicating terrorism were the state’s responsibility, warning that continued insecurity could trigger widespread public unrest.
The speakers also criticized the authorities for what they described as action against peaceful citizens while terrorists continued to operate in the mountainous areas of Swat. “Our children deserve education, and our families deserve to live in peace,” one speaker told the gathering.
Earlier in the day, an IED blast near the Peshawar-Islamabad motorway toll plaza injured two policemen in the provincial capital Peshawar. On July 30, a terrorist attack on a police checkpost in Hangu martyred nine policemen.
KP has seen an uptick in terrorist activity, with Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies reporting that KP recorded 154 terrorism-related deaths in July compared to 75 in June, representing an increase of 105 per cent. The governor of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province condemned the blast, expressing sorrow at the loss of life.
KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi also expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and sought a report from the KP Inspector General of Police (IGP). “The elements hostile to peace will never be allowed to succeed in their nefarious intentions,” he was quoted as saying. The chief minister offered his support to the government’s efforts to maintain law and order.
This is a developing story that is being updated as the situation evolves. Initial reports may contain inaccuracies, and we strive to ensure timeliness and accuracy by relying on credible sources, such as concerned authorities and our staff reporters.
Based on reporting from Dawn.
