3 traffic police personnel martyred in gun attack on vehicle in Pakistan

Three traffic police officers were killed and at least one other injured on Monday when unidentified gunmen opened fire on their vehicle in the Wazirabad Bazaar area of Tank district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

According to Tank District Police Officer Abdul Samad Khan, armed assailants targeted a traffic police mobile van. The three officers inside the vehicle were killed on the spot. The martyred personnel have been identified as Pir Khalid (or Peer Khalid), Warden Gul Amin, and Warden Saleemullah. ASI Ismatullah was also injured in the attack and shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital for treatment. Two civilians/passersby were reported injured as well.

The attackers fled the scene and initially took the traffic police vehicle with them; it was later recovered from Grah Budha (or a nearby location). Security forces cordoned off the area, set up checkpoints on major roads and pedestrian routes, and launched a search operation to apprehend the suspects.

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi strongly condemned the attack, which official statements attributed to “Khawarij” (a term used by Pakistani authorities for certain militant groups). In a statement posted by the Ministry of Interior, Naqvi expressed deep sorrow over the martyrdom of the three personnel, offered heartfelt condolences to their families, and saluted their sacrifice. He affirmed that the government stands with the bereaved families and that the martyrs’ sacrifices in the fight against terrorism would not go in vain.

The incident occurs against a backdrop of continued militant violence in parts of southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including previous attacks on police in the Tank area. Investigations and the manhunt for those responsible are ongoing.