Three traffic policemen were martyred when unidentified armed men opened fire on a traffic police mobile van in the Wazirabad area of Tank district on Monday, according to a preliminary police report. The Tank traffic police attack also left several others wounded, and the attackers escaped in the police vehicle. A search operation is now under way.
Background of the Attack
Tank is a district in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and its Wazirabad area is a busy commercial pocket where traffic wardens work every day. Officers on such duty deal with crowded roads and market rush, and they are easy to spot because they stand in the open with a marked vehicle.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police attack comes at a tense time for the province. Only two days earlier, a suicide attack on a security checkpoint in neighbouring Dera Ismail Khan district had killed at least 13 people, including police and excise personnel, and wounded 33 others. Police in the southern districts were therefore already on alert.
What Happened in Wazirabad
Two passersby were also injured in the firing and were taken to hospital, the preliminary report said. The dead were named as Constable Gul Amin, Constable Saleem Shah and traffic police driver Fayyaz. Reports differ slightly on the exact number and names of the injured, and police have not yet issued a final list.
District Police Officer Abdul Samad Khan said the firing happened in Wazirabad Bazaar and that Assistant Sub-Inspector Ismatullah was also injured and shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital. The attackers did not just flee. They took the traffic police vehicle with them, and it was later recovered from Gara Budha.
Search Operation and Investigation
A heavy contingent of police reached the site soon afterwards and cordoned off the area, while a search operation began to trace the suspects. The DPO said highways and pedestrian routes had been sealed to stop the suspects from moving out.
One report quoting police said the attackers belonged to the group the state calls “Fitna al-Khawarij”. Other outlets still described them as unidentified gunmen, so that claim should be treated as a police statement until an official inquiry confirms it. No group has been named in the preliminary report.
Official Reaction
Governor Faisal Karim Kundi expressed deep sorrow, sought a report from senior authorities and conveyed condolences to the families and colleagues of the martyred policemen. He also asked officials to give the injured every possible medical treatment and prayed for their quick recovery.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the attack, said the nation salutes the martyrs, and vowed that their sacrifices in the fight against terrorism would not go in vain. The DPO gave a similar assurance that the government stands with the bereaved families.
Impact on the Region
Every attack on police in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa raises the same worry among officers who work in the open: how safe is routine duty? An attack on traffic policemen, who are not front-line counter-terror units, is likely to push local commanders to rethink how patrol vehicles move through crowded markets.
For ordinary residents of Tank, the effect is more immediate. Roads and bazaars may see more checkpoints and slower movement while the search continues. Shopkeepers and commuters in Wazirabad should expect a heavier police presence in the coming days.
What Happens Next
Police say the investigation is active and that efforts are being made to identify and arrest everyone involved. The recovery of the abandoned vehicle may help investigators, since forensic checks can show which route the attackers took. A final casualty list and an official statement on the suspects are the next things to watch for.
FAQs
What happened in the attack on the traffic police vehicle in Tank?
On Monday, unidentified armed men opened fire on a traffic police mobile van in the Wazirabad area of Tank district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Three policemen died and others were wounded, including passersby. The attackers then drove away in the same vehicle, which police later found abandoned near Gara Budha. A search operation and an investigation began soon after the firing.
How many traffic policemen were martyred in the Tank attack?
Three traffic policemen were martyred, according to police. Reports name Constable Gul Amin, Constable Saleem Shah and driver Fayyaz. The number of injured differs slightly between outlets, but they include an assistant sub-inspector and civilians who were near the spot. Readers should watch for the final police list, because early reports can change.
Where did the attack on the traffic policemen take place in KP?
It took place in the Wazirabad area of Tank district in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Some reports place the firing in Wazirabad Bazaar, near a busy market. Tank borders Dera Ismail Khan, where a deadly suicide attack on a checkpoint had happened two days earlier. That is why security in both districts has been tightened.
