DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Two policemen were martyred when unidentified armed men ambushed a police patrol in the Shah Alam Mor area of Daraban Kalan in Dera Ismail Khan district on Friday, police said.

Regional Police Officer Ghulam Mubashir Mekan said the attack occurred within the limits of the Choudhwan police station when armed men opened fire on a police party returning from the site of a protest.

Police said the incident followed the fatal shooting of a civilian on Thursday night.

Officials said unidentified gunmen attempted to stop two men travelling on a motorcycle in the Choudhwan area a day earlier. When the riders failed to stop, the attackers opened fire, killing one of the men.

The killing prompted residents to block Daraban Road on Friday morning. The road was later reopened after successful negotiations between the protesters and police.

Officials said four policemen travelling on two motorcycles after the protest ended were ambushed near Shah Alam Mor by armed men lying in wait.

Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Faqir Hussain and Head Constable Wazir Khan were martyred in the attack, while the two other policemen remained unharmed.

Police and security personnel rushed to the scene, shifted the bodies to hospital for legal formalities and launched a search operation to trace the attackers. An investigation is underway.

Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi condemned the attack and sought a report from senior police officials.

The governor paid tribute to the fallen policemen, describing them as “the nation’s heroes” whose sacrifices were acknowledged across the country.

Kundi also expressed condolences to the bereaved families and colleagues of the martyred officers, saying he stood with them in their grief.