to the area after local law enforcement authorities received credible intelligence reports that Fitna-al-Khawarij terrorists were hiding in the forest. Fitna al Khawarij is a term that the state uses for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. “The exchange of fire continued for some time, resulting in the neutralisation and killing of two terrorists,” he maintained.

Qudratullah added that police constable Attiqur Rehman was also martyred in the exchange of fire. The official said that several terrorists were injured in the clash but escaped with the help of their accomplices, taking advantage of the darkness and dense forest. He identified one of the slain terrorists as Commander Amir Sohail alias Umar Khitab, and said he was wanted by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) for target killings, attacks on police and security forces, bomb blasts, and other terrorism-related incidents.

“A large-scale search operation by a heavy contingent of police and CTD commandos, backed by APCs, is underway in the area to arrest fleeing terrorists,” he added. The funeral prayer of Constable Rehman was offered with full official honours at Police Lines, Lakki Marwat. A large number of people attended the funeral prayer, including DPO Lakki Marwat Nazeer Khan, Deputy Commissioner Hamidullah Khan, SP Investigation Murad Khan, police officers, officials of the district administration, and police personnel.

Funeral prayers of the martyred policeman being offered in Lakki Marwat. —Photo by author On the occasion, a smartly turned-out police contingent presented a salute to the martyr, while officers laid floral wreaths on the coffin. Special prayers were also offered for the elevation of the martyr’s ranks. Paying tribute to the martyr, DPO Nazeer Khan said that by sacrificing his life, he had set a supreme example of devotion to duty, bravery, and patriotism.

He added that the martyr’s great sacrifice would always be remembered. Last month, security forces killed four Indian-sponsored terrorists in an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Lakki Marwat district. KP has seen a rise in terrorist attacks in the past year.

According to the Annual Security Report 2025 from the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), KP recorded a significant surge in violence last year as “fatalities rose from 1,620 in 2024 to 2,331 in 2025”. This marked an “absolute increase of 711 deaths, accounting for over 82 per cent of the net national rise and marking almost a 44pc year-on-year surge in violence in the province”.