At least 10 policemen were killed, and six others were injured when heavily armed terrorists launched an attack on a police station in northwest Pakistan on Monday, just days before the February 8 general elections in the country.
The incident occurred at Chodwan police station in Daraban tehsil, located in the Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, as confirmed by a senior police official in the Dera Ismail Khan division.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.
District Police Officer Nasir Mehmood reported, “We lost 10 of our jawans, while six others were injured in the ambush carried out by heavily armed terrorists.”
The terrorists assaulted the police station from all directions, utilizing grenades and heavy gunfire. Although the police retaliated, the attackers managed to escape, according to police sources.
Security forces have cordoned off the area and initiated a search operation. Additionally, the quick response force has been deployed with additional reinforcements.
The attack has heightened security concerns surrounding the upcoming general elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, which have experienced incidents of electoral violence and terrorist attacks in recent days.
In response to the attack, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa caretaker Chief Minister Arshad Hussain condemned the assault on the police station and extended condolences to the families of the victims. He emphasized that the resolve of the police against terrorism remains undeterred by such cowardly acts.
Meanwhile, preparations for the elections continue, with the delivery of 260 million ballot papers across 859 National Assembly and provincial assembly constituencies already underway. This follows the resolution of some last-minute candidacy-related petitions.
The elections will cover 336 seats in the National Assembly and four provincial assemblies. Approximately 18,000 candidates are contesting for seats in the National Assembly and the four provincial assemblies in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan.
Ballot paper printing has been completed at three government presses, with some papers requiring reprinting due to court decisions on candidacy-related petitions. The Election Commission of Pakistan has utilized 2,170 tonnes of paper for the printing process, representing a significant increase from previous elections. Despite time constraints and challenges, the ECP has fulfilled its responsibility by completing the printing of 260 million ballot papers.