In a tragic incident, two policemen were martyred when militants attacked a convoy of judges between Tank and Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The attack, targeted the police squad responsible for the security of judges serving in South Waziristan and Tank.
The convoy, which included Additional District and Sessions Judges Malik Asghar and Malik Husnain, as well as Senior Civil Judge Mahjabeen, was ambushed by 20 to 25 armed militants while returning to DI Khan after duty. Despite the intense attack, which resulted in the deaths of policemen Abdul Samad and Abdullah and injuries to two others, the judges escaped unhurt.
The police returned fire, engaging the militants in a 30-minute exchange, ultimately forcing them to flee. The attackers later torched a police van in Cheena village, Tank, after fleeing the scene.
In response to the incident, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) summoned the provincial police chief and additional chief secretary home to discuss enhanced security measures for judicial officials. PHC Chief Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim held an emergency meeting with other justices and court officials, emphasizing the need for strengthened security and zero tolerance for negligence in protecting judicial personnel.
This attack is part of a broader pattern of violence in Pakistan. According to the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) Annual Security Report, the second quarter of 2024 saw 380 violence-linked fatalities and 220 injuries across the country from 240 incidents of terror attacks and counter-terror operations. The report highlights that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, which share borders with Afghanistan, have been particularly affected, accounting for 92% of all fatalities and 87% of attacks during this period.
