Deadly Ambush Targets K-P Excise Police in Nowshera
Key Details:
- Attack: Unidentified gunmen in a white double-cabin vehicle opened fire on an Excise Department patrol in Pabbi, Nowshera, around 2am Sunday.
- Casualties:
- Killed: Two K-P police constables (Mujahid Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed) and a driver.
- Injured: Sub-Inspector Farooq Bacha (critical, shifted to Peshawar’s Lady Reading Hospital).
- Response:
- Funerals held at Police Lines, attended by K-P Police Chief Qasim Khan and senior officials.
- CM Gandapur vowed justice and support for victims’ families.
- Chief Secretary ordered a probe, linking the attack to the team’s anti-smuggling operations.
Broader Context:
- Escalating Violence: The ambush follows a remote-controlled IED attack on Shangla’s DPO Shah Hassan a day earlier.
- Narcotics Crackdown: The Excise team was reportedly active in counter-smuggling efforts, likely making them a target.
Official Statements:
- CM Gandapur: “Justice will be served… culprits will be arrested swiftly.”
- Chief Secretary: “Their sacrifices won’t go in vain—the crackdown on illicit trade will intensify.”
Why It Matters:
The attack underscores growing threats to law enforcement in K-P, particularly those combating smuggling and organized crime. With back-to-back assaults, security forces face heightened risks in the region.
What’s Next?
- Manhunt launched for attackers.
- Increased security for Excise/Police teams.
- Potential escalation of anti-smuggling operations despite risks.
Bottom Line:
K-P’s frontline forces remain under fire, highlighting the volatile security landscape as criminal networks push back against enforcement. The state’s response will test its resolve to protect personnel and curb illicit trade.
