Pakistan: An FIR registered over the deadly attack on Kohat’s old Police Lines has detailed how militants used an explosives-laden vehicle, opened fire and launched grenade attacks during an assault that killed 22 people and injured 103 others.
The case was registered at the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) police station on the complaint of the SHO of Kohat City police station. The suspects were booked under provisions relating to terrorism, murder and attempted murder.
FIR Details Suicide Attack and Gunfire
According to the FIR, militants described by the state as Fitna al-Khawarij carried out a suicide attack by ramming an explosives-laden vehicle into the gate of the Police Lines mosque.
The attackers opened fire and entered the compound after the explosion, while police personnel engaged them. The assault also involved grenade attacks and a second suicide blast, according to the FIR.
The attack killed 22 people, including 16 police personnel and six civilians, while 103 others were injured. Hospital officials said 73 of the injured were police personnel and 30 were civilians.
Dr Israel Khan Orakzai, chief district specialist at Liaquat Memorial Hospital, was among those killed.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hamid said the explosives-laden vehicle struck the old Police Lines gate before exploding. Another explosion later occurred at the Special Branch building during an exchange of fire.
Eight Militants Killed in Clearance Operation
The blast severely damaged the mosque’s outer section and caused a wall to collapse. Rescue teams evacuated the wounded as Kohat’s District Headquarters Hospital declared an emergency.
Police, CTD teams, Elite Force commandos and other security personnel subsequently launched an overnight clearance operation inside the Police Lines.
Eight militants were killed during the operation, according to the Central Police Office. Security sources said Pakistan Army personnel joined the operation after Fajr prayers and killed the remaining two suicide bombers hiding inside the compound.
Separately, militants opened fire on a police post at the main gate of Kohat’s district courts, damaging the post. No casualties were reported.
Pakistan Calls for Action Against Terrorist Networks
The attack has also prompted renewed criticism from Islamabad over what Pakistani authorities describe as militant networks operating from Afghan territory.
The Ministry of Information said the attackers had roots in Afghanistan and accused the Afghan Taliban authorities of failing to take credible and verifiable action against terrorist groups.
Pakistan said it had repeatedly raised concerns over alleged terrorist sanctuaries, recruitment networks and support infrastructure in Afghanistan that it says are used to plan attacks inside Pakistan.
Islamabad called for “credible, verifiable and sustained” measures to dismantle terrorist sanctuaries and disrupt recruitment and training networks.
The ministry welcomed Kabul’s condemnation of the Kohat attack and its expression of sympathy for the victims’ families, but said condemnation should be accompanied by concrete action.
The Afghan Taliban has rejected Pakistan’s allegations regarding militant sanctuaries on Afghan soil.