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Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Punjab, K-P police boost border security
With growing security concerns in the border regions of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP), authorities have ramped up coordination between the two provinces to combat terrorism, smuggling, and cross-border criminal activity. Mianwali, Punjab's last district before the KP border, shares boundaries with districts such as Lakki Marwat, Bannu, Kohat, and Dera Ismail Khan. Its strategic location and mountainous terrain have long posed challenges, enabling outlaws and militants to slip into KP, where they often evade Punjab police jurisdiction. The cultural and linguistic ties between residents of Mianwali — especially in Tehsil Isa Khel — and neighbouring KP districts are deep-rooted. Many families here speak Pashto and have ancestral connections across the provincial border, with a significant portion of the population originally migrating from KP. The recent wave of terrorist incidents in Bannu, Waziristan, and Lakki Marwat has had ripple effects in Mianwali. In response, local police intensified operations, reportedly killing 30 foreign terrorists while tragically losing one police officer in the line of duty. Recognising the critical security situation, Inspector General of KP Police Zulfiqar Hameed visited Mianwali and inspected several key checkpoints along the border, including Dara Tang, Qabulwala, Chachali Patrol Post, and the mountainous regions of Makarwal, Mullakhel, Karandi, and Baba Khassa Shrine. These locations are considered high-risk transit routes for militants and fugitives. The visit included high-level briefings and a security meeting where both provinces discussed strategies to improve cross-border coordination and fortify joint security measures. Also present were senior officials including RPO Kohat Jawad Khan, RPO Bannu Sajjad Khan, DPOs of Karak and Lakki Marwat, and officers from Mianwali's investigation unit. In a bid to restore public confidence, police have increased visibility in high-risk areas. RPO Sargodha now visits border regions twice weekly, while DPO Mianwali makes frequent trips to police stations and outposts. Local tribal elders and community leaders have also been engaged through jirgas, strengthening community-police ties. A robust patrolling system is now in place, and under the leadership of DPO Capt (retd) Rai Ajmal, flag marches have been conducted to assert police presence and deter criminal activity. These efforts have not only reassured local residents but also helped create a strong social resistance against foreign militants. Many retired military personnel and peace-loving Pashto-speaking residents in these border areas are reportedly acting as the first line of defence, rejecting the presence of any external threats. In a telling anecdote, a police reader once remarked that despite Mianwali's highly sensitive geographic position, it has remained relatively secure even when terrorism was rampant in places like Peshawar and Islamabad.
Voice of America
28-02-2025
- Politics
- Voice of America
Suicide bombing at Pakistan religious seminary kills senior cleric, others
Police in northwestern Pakistan said Friday a suicide bomber detonated himself during afternoon prayers at the Darul Uloom Haqqania seminary, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Haqqania, with several thousand students, is among South Asia's largest and most respected Islamic seminaries. The top leaders of Afghanistan's Taliban also studied at the madrasa, in the town of Akora Khattak. Seminary head Maulana Hamidul Haq was among at least four worshippers killed in the incident, which injured more than 20 others. The provincial police chief, Zulfiqar Hameed, confirmed the casualties, saying an investigation into the bombing was underway. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned what he called "a cowardly and heinous act of terrorism,' according to a statement issued by his office. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the blast, but suspicions fell on a regional Islamic State group affiliate, the Islamic State-Khorasan, or IS-K. The group, which the United Nations says is based in neighboring Afghanistan, has taken credit for other madrasa attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. IS-K has routinely carried out high-profile attacks against leaders and clerics affiliated with the Taliban government in Kabul, killing dozens of them in recent months. A U.N. Security Council assessment this month described IS-K as 'the greatest extra-regional terrorist threat.' The report said that in addition to attacks on Taliban authorities and Afghan religious minorities, IS-K supporters conducted strikes as far away as Europe, and it 'was actively seeking to recruit from among Central Asian states' bordering Afghanistan.
Express Tribune
08-02-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
K-P IG seeks army's help to fight terror
PESHAWAR: The IG of the K-P police Zulfiqar Hameed said on Friday that army and paramilitary FC support would be sought to improve the law and order situation in the southern districts of the province, where terrorism remains a big challenge. Talking to journalists in Peshawar, the IG said that he intended to improve the police image and restore public confidence in the law-enforcement authority. He acknowledged that terrorism was a big issue and "if the people help in controlling terrorism, it will be greatly beneficial" for the country. "The southern districts of the province are a big problem, especially Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan," the IG told reporters. "It has been decided to seek the help of the army and the FC to improve the law and order situation in these districts. Their special teams will be deployed there," he said. The IG acknowledged that people felt insecure because of terrorism, therefore, he added, giving them a sense of security was the most important task. "We want to restore public confidence in our police force. We want to improve the police image among the public," he said. Responding to a question he said that the police force wanted to control terrorism but he could not say how long would it take. When pressed further on the issue, the provincial police chief replied: "The work requiring 15 years cannot be done in one year. I want to do the work that I can do." The IG said that in his career, he had served in the three other provinces but the current assignment was his first in K-P. He admitted that many people thought that K-P was the most challenging province. "Our job is full of challenges, but the responsibility of K-P is the most challenging," he said. Unfolding his plans for improvement in the K-P police force, he said that vacant posts would be filled and the new recruits would be provided modern equipment, including long-range sniper rifles along with training in Jhelum or Kharian. "Our current strength is 112,000, instead of 130,000, so we will make up for this shortfall through new recruitments and promotions. We will recruit our own people and train them according to our own conditions. We will improve the conditions of police stations and outposts," he said. He said that the salaries of the police force would be brought at par with the police forces in Punjab and Sindh. He revealed that he drew less salary as the K-P IG than what he was drawing as the Additional IG in Punjab. In this regard, he told reporters, a summary had been sent to the chief minister. He stressed the need for increasing the Shuhada and the welfare packages of the K-P police force, which he described as the lowest among all the provinces. The martyr's package in Punjab was Rs70 million, and it was Rs10 million in K-P. He said that the chief minister had promised to double the package. When asked about the situation in Kurram, he said that the government was implementing the 14-point agreement in the district. "The demolition of bunkers and collection of weapons is ongoing in Kurram and the roads will be opened for traffic as soon as the situation improves."
