A policeman was martyred and two terrorists killed in a blast in the I-10 sector of the federal capital on Friday.
The Federal Interior minister, in a statement, said a man and a woman were riding a vehicle, which entered Islamabad from Rawalpindi on Friday morning.
A team of the Eagle Squad intercepted it for checking when the two terrorists blew up the car, which was laden with explosive material. He said the terrorists aimed at hitting some “high-value targets” in the capital city.
Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said six people, including four cops, were also injured in the incident, adding that the injured personnel were out of danger and being treated at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).
Earlier, DIG Operations of Islamabad police Sohail Zafar Chattah told media personnel of the Eagle Squad intercepted a suspected taxi for checking when it exploded.
The DIG also confirmed one policeman, identified as Adil Hussain, and six people, including four cops, were injured in the incident. He said the timely action by the police had saved the capital city from major incidents.
Rescues officials shifted the injured policemen to the PIMS where a state of emergency has been declared.
Following the blast, security has been tightening in Islamabad and Rawalpindi while checking at exit and entry points of the cities has also been made stricter.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has strongly condemned the explosion in the capital city. He has sought a detailed report on the incident from authorities. The premier also paid a tribute to the police officers for failing the Plan of the terrorists.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, former president Asif Ali Zardari, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, and others have also condemned the incident.
The incident comes as Pakistan witnessed a rise in terror activities after the Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) withdrew from the ceasefire agreement.
In November last, a suicide bomb blast struck a police vehicle in Quetta, killing at least one police officer and two civilians and wounding dozens. The TTP had claimed responsibility for the’s attack, two days after announcing an end to a ceasefire agreed with the Pakistani government in June.
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