In a tragic incident, a police official lost his life, and two others sustained injuries when their vehicle was struck by a magnetic Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Khuzdar, Balochistan on Sunday. The targeted vehicle belonged to the Counter Terrorism Department’s (CTD) Station House Officer Mohammad Murad, who embraced martyrdom in the blast on Sultan Ibrahim road.
The wounded personnel have been promptly shifted to Khuzdar Teaching Hospital for medical treatment, as confirmed by the local police.
Caretaker Federal Minister of Interior Sarfaraz Bugti addressed the incident, emphasizing that the entire nation must unite in the fight against terrorism, considering it a formidable challenge. He stated, “The war against terrorism is not just CTDs but of the entire nation.”
This attack follows a pattern of heightened security concerns in Balochistan, with a similar incident in October resulting in two fatalities and three injuries due to a roadside explosion in the Chaghi area.
The security situation in Balochistan has been precarious, marked by terrorist attacks such as suicide bombings in Mastung and Hangu city in September, claiming over 60 lives.
The recent surge in terrorist activities across Pakistan has been noted, with an independent think tank, the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), reporting at least 271 militant attacks in the first half of 2023. These attacks resulted in 389 fatalities and 656 injuries, reflecting a 79% increase in terror activities during this period.
In response to the rising security challenges, the caretaker interior minister announced a November 1 deadline for illegal aliens, including Afghan immigrants, to leave the country voluntarily. Notably, Afghan nationals were identified as responsible for 14 out of the 24 suicide bombings in Pakistan this year, according to the interior minister.
