A devastating improvised explosive device (IED) blast near the Sadiqueabad crossing in Khar Tehsil of Bajaur district has claimed the lives of five individuals and injured 11 others.
The blast targeted an official double-cabin vehicle near Phatak Mela, where a convoy including Assistant Commissioner Nawagai, Tehsildar Waqil Khan, and police personnel was passing. The IED, strategically placed near the vehicle, detonated as the officials drove by.
Hospital sources confirmed that the deceased included Assistant Commissioner Nawagai, Tehsildar Waqil Khan, a police subedar, and a constable. Several injured, some of whom were critically wounded, were rushed to Khar Hospital for immediate medical attention.
Rescue teams promptly arrived at the scene, initiating relief and evacuation efforts. Security forces sealed off the area and launched a search operation to apprehend those responsible for the attack.
This bombing in Bajaur is part of a troubling rise in terrorist attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with government officials and law enforcement increasingly targeted.
IGP Demands Report
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Inspector General of Police (IGP), Zulfiqar Hameed, has called for a detailed report on the Bajaur explosion from the Regional Police Officer of Malakand.
He directed the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and Central Police Office to ramp up intelligence-based operations targeting the militant group “Khawarij.” A special investigative team was dispatched to Bajaur to probe the incident.
IGP Hameed emphasized that the inquest into the explosion’s nature is ongoing and vowed that those attempting to destabilize peace in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would face severe consequences. The Special Branch is actively gathering intelligence to support the investigation.
PM Shehbaz Condemns Attack
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the Bajaur blast, expressing profound sorrow over the loss of the Assistant Commissioner, Tehsildar, and other officials.
He offered prayers for the martyrs’ elevated ranks and conveyed condolences to their families. The Prime Minister also prayed for the quick recovery of the injured, instructing authorities to ensure they receive top-quality medical care. He reiterated the government’s unwavering resolve to eliminate terrorism.
Interior Minister Honors Martyrs
Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the Bajaur attack, paying tribute to the fallen Assistant Commissioner, Tehsildar Abdul Wakeel, Constable Rasheed, and Noor Hakeem.
He prayed for the injured’s swift recovery and assured the martyrs’ families of the nation’s solidarity. Naqvi stressed that terrorist acts, allegedly supported by India, would not weaken the nation’s determination to combat terrorism.
June Sees Rise in Terror Attacks
According to a think tank focused on terrorism, the extremist group “Fitna Al-Hindustan” carried out 78 terrorist attacks in June 2025, resulting in 100 fatalities and 189 injuries. In response, security forces neutralized 71 terrorists and detained 52 suspected militants during the same period.
