Sept 7, 2024
Staff Report
LAHORE
A police officer has been abducted in Bannu amid the increased activity of various factions of the outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) across districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) bordering Afghanistan.
Local sources said Sakhi Zaman, a sub-inspector posted at Bakakhel police station, was going to Narmi Khel area on his motorcycle when he was abducted by the TTP-affiliated militants near Warghar Narmi Khel on September 5.
A day later, the Hafiz Gul Bahadar militant group affiliated with the TTP released a picture of the captive police officer in which he could be seen surrounded by masked armed men. The group has not made any demands for the release of the police officer so far.
Local police sources said Zaman was a resident of Ghoriwala town in Bannu. The police had launched efforts to ensure the safe recovery of the police official. Zia Din, the district police officer of Bannu, did not respond to messages for comments from Voicepk.net about efforts to recover the kidnapped official.
Once considered the ‘good’ Taliban, Hafiz Gul Bahadur’s group has joined hands with the TTP to launch attacks in KP. The group has claimed responsibility for the March 16 suicide bombing in North Waziristan. Last year, the group carried out suicide bombings in Bannu’s Bakakehl area and Jani Khel area.
According to Pak Institute for Peace Studies’ monthly security review for June 2024, the geographical spread of terrorist violence has spread across nine districts in KP.
The report noted that in June, the TTP and other local Taliban groups orchestrated a total of 21 terrorist attacks in KP, which is two more than the previous month. These attacks claimed the lives of 28 people, including 19 security and law enforcement personnel.