At least 11 police officers were killed and seven others injured after bandits armed with guns and rocket-propelled grenades attacked their convoy in Pakistan‘s eastern Punjab province Thursday.
The attackers attacked at the time when two convoy returning from weekly duties in a deserted area in Rahim Yar Khan district when one of the vehicles developed a malfunction, after which sudden rocket attacks occurred.
It added that the Rahim Yar Khan district police officer was present at the scene, while Punjab Inspector General of Police Dr Usman Anwar took notice of the incident, requested a report from the Bahawalpur RPO, and proceeded to the location with several other senior police officials, Dawn reported.
Pakistan ministers slams attack, PM orders immediate action
The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, strongly denounced the assault and instructed authorities to take “immediate and effective action” against the riverine bandits responsible for the attack.
Asif Ali Zardari, the president of Pakistan, also vehemently condemned the attack and offered his sympathies to the families of the police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty. He stressed the importance of taking strict measures against criminals operating in the riverine region and issued a stern warning that attacks targeting police and law enforcement personnel would not be tolerated under any circumstances.
Maryam Nawaz, the chief minister of Punjab, pledged that the attack would not go “unavenged.” She stated that a team of officials had been sent to the area with “clear directions to sort them out decisively,” indicating her resolve to bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure the safety of law enforcement agencies in the region.
The attackers attacked at the time when two convoy returning from weekly duties in a deserted area in Rahim Yar Khan district when one of the vehicles developed a malfunction, after which sudden rocket attacks occurred.
It added that the Rahim Yar Khan district police officer was present at the scene, while Punjab Inspector General of Police Dr Usman Anwar took notice of the incident, requested a report from the Bahawalpur RPO, and proceeded to the location with several other senior police officials, Dawn reported.
Pakistan ministers slams attack, PM orders immediate action
The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, strongly denounced the assault and instructed authorities to take “immediate and effective action” against the riverine bandits responsible for the attack.
Asif Ali Zardari, the president of Pakistan, also vehemently condemned the attack and offered his sympathies to the families of the police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty. He stressed the importance of taking strict measures against criminals operating in the riverine region and issued a stern warning that attacks targeting police and law enforcement personnel would not be tolerated under any circumstances.
Maryam Nawaz, the chief minister of Punjab, pledged that the attack would not go “unavenged.” She stated that a team of officials had been sent to the area with “clear directions to sort them out decisively,” indicating her resolve to bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure the safety of law enforcement agencies in the region.
Pakistan has experienced an increase in militant attacks in recent years, but such a high number of police casualties in a single incident is uncommon. Security forces in the country frequently conduct operations against bandits who hide in the rural and forested areas of the eastern Punjab and southern Sindh provinces.
The attack, being one of the deadliest on police in recent years, garnered nationwide condemnation from the country’s leadership.