A shadow of fear blankets Pakistan as violence spirals out of control, claiming a police constable’s life in a chilling ambush in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The assassination in Lakki Marwat exposes the fragility of security in regions plagued by militancy.
Unidentified attackers struck in the Darga jungle vicinity of Sarai Naurang, abducting the officer from his home while he recovered at Hangu Training School. Discovered murdered late Tuesday, the case was verified by police spokesperson Kudratullah, who decried the audacity amid rising threats.
Since the TTP ceasefire dissolved in 2022, attacks have proliferated, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Fresh clashes there pitted security forces against Baloch insurgents, yielding heavy losses.
This echoes the January 14 slaying of Head Constable Ali Gauhar in Dera Murad Jamali, shot dead by gunmen near a school as he reported for duty. Media accounts detailed the on-site death and procedural handover to kin.
The 2025 PIPS report quantifies the mayhem: 699 incidents, 34% above 2024 levels, killing 1,034 and wounding 1,366. Violence-linked events hit 1,124—a 43% surge—with deaths up 21%. Balochistan’s crisis includes rampant forced abductions and killings, with activists voicing alarms internationally over state repression.
Years of uninterrupted escalation signal a national emergency. Policymakers must confront root causes, bolster intelligence, and pursue inclusive strategies to safeguard lives and reclaim stability in these turbulent frontiers.