Qilla Abdullah DPO martyred in Chaman 'suicide attack'

CHAMAN: SSP Sajid Khan Mohmand was martyred in a terrorist attack after his convoy was targeted with an explosive device on Boghra Road of the city on Monday.

Around a dozen police personnel and civilians were also injured in the attack, police officials said, adding that the deceased and injured were shifted to the Civil Hospital where an emergency has been declared.

Three cops are among the injured where as three critically injured persons have been sent to Quetta for further treatment. 

Deputy Commissioner Qaiser Khan said that a suicide bomber, riding on a motorcycle, attacked the SSP's convoy. 

Security was tightened around the city following the incident, and security officials cordoned off the site of the blast and began investigating.

Gunfire was also heard in the area following the blast, according to initial reports.

The blast occurred in a congested area, damaging nearby shops and passing vehicles.

In a statement, Balochistan Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri condemned the attack and expressed grief over the incident. Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan also condemned the attack and sought a report from the relevant officials over the incident. 

A brave officer

‘Hum tumhei yad ayenge, zamana beet janay do’ [You will miss us, let the days pass]

This is the last post seen on the Facebook profile of SSP Mohmand.

Mohmand was born in 1964 in Peshawar. Hailing from Mohmand Agency, he had got his education from the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He got a master’s degree in politics from the University of Peshawar, after which he was recruited in the police force as a deputy superintendent of police in 1992.

During the course of his career, Sajjad served as the district police officer in Karak, Shangla and Nowshera, superintendent of police for investigation and assistant inspector general in the logistics branch. He was appointed as the SSP in the crimes branch of Balochistan Police a few years back. He was presently serving as the district police officer of Qilla Abdullah.

Mohmand was determined to restore peace in the region, a resolve reflected in his social media post that reads, “There is always something worth fighting for”.

The martyred SSP is survived by three daughters and as many sons.

A history of violence

Last month, fourteen people, including seven policemen, were martyred and 21 injured in a suicide car bombing near the office of the inspector general of police in Balochistan on Gulistan Road, Quetta.

Security officials confirmed that the blast was the result of a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device which exploded after a 'suspicious' driver was spotted by policemen.

Officials also claimed that it appeared that the bomber wanted to attack the IGP’s office.

In November, last year, one civilian was killed and two security personnel injured in a bomb blast at Bogra Road in Chaman, near the Pak-Afghan border.

With additional input from Aftab Ahmed in Peshawar