Inspector General of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police, Zulfiqar Hameed, on Tuesday disclosed that the suicide bomber involved in the May 11 incident in Peshawar’s Chamkani area had been targeting a prominent religious figure. The attempt was foiled by the swift response of police personnel, who laid down their lives to prevent a major tragedy. Speaking to the media in Peshawar, IG Zulfiqar Hameed said the attack came just days after Pakistan celebrated “Youm-e-Tashakkur” to mark its victory against hostile elements. “A terrorist made an attempt to assassinate a religious leader in the heart of Peshawar, but our police intercepted him before he could reach his target,” he said.
According to the police, the attacker detonated his explosives prematurely after being stopped by security personnel near the Chamkani area. Two police officers were martyred in the line of duty while preventing what could have been a mass-casualty attack. “The two brave officers made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure that the attacker could not fulfill his deadly mission,” the IG added. “Their selfless act reflects the unwavering commitment of the KP Police to protect lives, even at the cost of their own.”
The incident has once again drawn attention to the increasingly complex nature of threats facing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The IG warned that the province is in urgent need of additional resources to effectively counter the rising tide of terrorism. “To meet the operational demands of this high risk environment, the KP Police immediately require Rs16 billion in funding,” IG Hameed stated. “Without this support, it will be difficult to sustain intelligence-based operations, secure high-risk individuals, and maintain proactive security across the province.”
The KP Police have since launched a coordinated counter terrorism drive, working in tandem with intelligence agencies to trace the network behind the foiled attack. Officials believe the targeting of religious figures is part of a broader strategy by anti-state elements to destabilise the region and incite sectarian tensions. However, the successful disruption of the May 11 attack is being seen as a testament to the vigilance and sacrifice of KP’s frontline law enforcement personnel.
As investigations continue, security has been tightened around sensitive locations across Peshawar, with the police vowing not to allow terrorists to disrupt peace or intimidate public figures.“The message is clear,” the IG said. “We will not allow terror to prevail. Our martyrs have drawn a line no enemy can cross.”
