Cop martyred after unidentified assailants open fire in KP's Bannu

BANNU: A police constable was martyred after unidentified assailants opened fire on him near Lora Bridge in Bannu on Monday. Police identified the deceased as Umar Niaz Khan, who was on his way to report for duty. He was posted at the Bannu Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Bungalow. Local sources also said that unidentified armed assailants forced the police constable off a rickshaw before opening fire on him and killing him on the spot. Following the attack, the police and the peace committee cordoned off the area. They launched a search operation to trace the attackers, and efforts were underway to apprehend those responsible. Later, the funeral prayers for the fallen police officer were offered at the Police Lines, where fellow officers and officials paid tribute to his sacrifice. Bannu district has witnessed repeated security incidents in recent months, with both civilians and local security forces coming under attack. Violence has included attacks on police and jirga members, prompting targeted operations by police and security forces in various localities to disrupt terrorist networks. Last month, the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) said in an assessment that after two consecutive months of improvement, Pakistan’s security situation had deteriorated sharply in May 2026, driven primarily by escalating terrorist violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. On May 9, a suicide attack in Bannu claimed the lives of 15 police personnel, after which Pakistan issued a “strong demarche” to Afghanistan.