Swabi Policemen Martyred in Van Firing
Two Swabi policemen were martyred and a third was critically injured when unidentified assailants opened fire on a police van during a routine patrol in Swabi on Wednesday night.
Assistant Sub-Inspector Waleed Khan, the in-charge of Mansoori Police Post, and Constable Zulfiqar Khan died at the scene. Constable Shahid Khan was shifted to hospital in critical condition. Police have registered a case, but the report did not name any suspects.
Swabi policemen martyred in Gohati patrol
According to a report registered at Swabi Police Station, ASI Waleed Khan was patrolling the Gohati village area with Constables Zulfiqar Khan and Shahid Khan. The patrol covered Mohallah India Cham, within the jurisdiction of Swabi Police Station.
As the police van passed through the area, unidentified armed men opened fire, leaving all three personnel seriously wounded.
ASI Waleed Khan, a resident of Topi, and Constable Zulfiqar Khan, a resident of Kalu Khan, succumbed to their injuries at the scene. Constable Shahid Khan, a resident of Naranji, sustained critical injuries.
The bodies of the martyred personnel and the injured constable were shifted to Bacha Khan Medical Complex in Shah Mansoor, Swabi, for medico-legal formalities and treatment.
Second deadly attack on police in two days
The Swabi firing came a day after a far larger attack on police in Kohat. Ten policemen were killed in an ambush in Kohat on Wednesday, when a police team came under attack while returning from an operation against illegal gold mining. Police said 18 terrorists were killed in the exchange of fire.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the martyred Kohat policemen, which shows how seriously the federal government views the losses. Two deadly attacks on police in two districts in two days point to a sustained threat against police personnel in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Swabi itself has seen such attacks before. In June 2025, two policemen were killed in a gun attack in the Gadoon area of the district, when motorcycle-riding assailants opened fire on them. That incident, like this one, involved unidentified gunmen who fled after the shooting.
The pattern is familiar. Police patrols and check posts in the province remain exposed, and small teams on routine patrols are the easiest targets. Three militants were killed in an intelligence operation in Mir Ali, which shows security forces are hitting back, but the attacks on police have not stopped.
A jirga in South Waziristan has demanded an end to quadcopter strikes and curfews, which underlines the strain that security operations place on daily life in the province. The public wants protection from militants, but also wants an end to the restrictions that come with the operations.
What happens next
Police have registered a case at Swabi Police Station, and an investigation is under way. The immediate task is to identify the gunmen and find out whether the attack was planned or opportunistic.
The injured constable’s condition will also be watched closely at Bacha Khan Medical Complex. His account, once he is able to speak, may help investigators establish how many attackers were involved and which direction they fled.
Funeral prayers for the martyred policemen are expected to be offered with official honours, as is the practice for police personnel killed on duty. The attack will also add to the pressure on the provincial government to review the security of police patrols in districts where such attacks keep recurring.
Frequently asked questions
Who were the policemen martyred in Swabi?
Assistant Sub-Inspector Waleed Khan, in-charge of Mansoori Police Post, and Constable Zulfiqar Khan were martyred. ASI Waleed Khan was a resident of Topi, while Constable Zulfiqar Khan was a resident of Kalu Khan.
What happened to the third policeman?
Constable Shahid Khan, a resident of Naranji, sustained critical injuries in the firing. He was shifted to Bacha Khan Medical Complex in Shah Mansoor for treatment.
Where did the attack take place?
The firing took place in the Gohati village area, in Mohallah India Cham, within the jurisdiction of Swabi Police Station. The police van was on a routine patrol when unidentified assailants opened fire.
Has anyone claimed responsibility for the attack?
The report registered at Swabi Police Station did not name any suspects, and no group had been linked to the attack when the report was filed.
Was this the only recent attack on police in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa?
No. A day earlier, ten policemen were killed in an ambush in Kohat while returning from an operation against illegal gold mining. Police said 18 terrorists were killed in that exchange of fire.
