The funeral prayers for martyred Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Gul Muhammad Khan and another official Naseem Gul were offered with official honours at the Iqbal Shaheed Police Line in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu on Saturday.

According to the spokesman of Lakki Marwat police, two policemen, including DSP Khan and Constable Naseem Gul were martyred in an attack that occurred near Manjiwala Chowk in KP’s Lakki Marwat district on Friday night. One policeman was wounded.

That same night, in a separate incident in the Sara Darga district of Lakki Marwat, Constable Sanamat Khan was martyred when unknown assailants opened fire at him near his house. He was stationed in Miranshah, North Waziristan and had returned home on leave.

An affiliate of the banned militant Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan group claimed responsibility for the attacks.

A large number of people including the police and army officers attended the funeral.

Bannu District Police Officer Ziauddin Ahmed, Lakki Marwat DPO Taimur Khan, Bannu SP Operation Sanaullah and army officers laid flower wreaths on the coffins of the martyred and prayed for them.

Bannu DPO Ziauddin Ahmed praised the martyrs as “being brave, dutiful and noble.” Bannu police stand with the bereaved families in their hour of grief, he added.

Due to the best actions of the police, he said the miscreants are “hiding now but they will not be forgiven in any case and those who challenge the government writ will be dealt strictly.”

Ahmed vowed to continue the war against terrorism till the complete elimination of this menace from the area. “Due to the excellent actions of the police with the public support, the miscreants are hiding now, but they will not be forgiven in any case,” he added.

“The blood of the martyrs will not go in vain,” DPO said added that “terrorists will not demoralise us with cowardly acts.”

Lakki Marwat DPO Taimur Khan said that police forces have, in the past, sacrificed their lives for the country, which the entire nation values. “We are proud of such young people who died fighting bravely,” he added.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned a terrorist attack on police personnel in Lakki Marwat.

The prime minister prayed for the high ranks of Shaheed DSP Gul Muhammad Khan, Naseem Gul, constable and others and expressed sympathies with the bereaved families, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.

The prime minister said that KP police had been “acting like a bulwark against terrorism.” The cowardly terrorist activities could not shake their determination, he added.

The prime minister also appreciated the security forces for their successful operation against terrorists in District Dera Ismail Khan.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur strongly condemned the attack on the police vehicle and expressed grief over the martyrdom of DSP Gul Muhammad Khan and his gunman and another police constable in the incident.

He also prayed for the martyred and demanded necessary action for the immediate arrest of the elements involved in the firing.

“The families of the martyrs will not be left alone, and they will be fully supported,” Gandapur said.

He also announced financial assistance for the families of the martyrs under the Shuhada Package. “Steps should be taken for timely payment of the martyrs’ package to the families of the martyrs,” the CM instructed the police officials.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Haji Ghulam Ali also condemned the firing on the police vehicle in Lakki Marwat and expressed grief over the martyrdom of the three police personnel.