Two brothers serving as police officers killed after abduction in northwest Pakistan
Authorities say third brother remains missing as security forces search the Bannu area
Kamran Ali
Correspondent Nukta
Kamran Ali, a seasoned journalist from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, has a decade of experience covering terrorism, human rights, politics, economy, climate change, culture, and sports. With an MS in Media Studies, he has worked across print, radio, TV, and digital media, producing investigative reports and co-hosting shows that highlight critical issues.
Bannu and nearby districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have long been affected by militancy due to their proximity to the Afghan border.
Reuters/File
Militants killed two police officers who were brothers after abducting three siblings in Pakistan’s northwestern district of Bannu, officials said, highlighting ongoing security challenges in the region.
Authorities said the third brother remains missing as security forces continue search operations across the area.
Police said the two officers were found dead along Marwat Canal Road after local officials were alerted to the discovery. The bodies showed signs of violence, officials added, without providing further details.
The victims were identified as Constable Amjad and Constable Hazrat Ullah. Their brother, Saeed Akhtar, a clerk working at the commissioner’s office, has not yet been located.
According to police and eyewitness accounts, the three brothers were abducted late on Tuesday night while returning from evening prayers at a mosque in the Sokari Hassan Khel area. Witnesses said a group of around 10 to 12 armed men forced them into vehicles and took them to an undisclosed location.
Sajjad Khan, the regional police chief, said an investigation is under way and security has been tightened across entry and exit points in and around Bannu. “Search operations are ongoing to trace those responsible and to recover the missing individual,” he said.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. However, militant groups including the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and the Hafiz Gul Bahadar faction have been active in the region, frequently targeting security personnel and government officials.
Bannu and nearby districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have long been affected by militancy due to their proximity to the Afghan border and former tribal areas. Despite repeated counter-terrorism operations by Pakistani security forces, insurgent networks continue to operate in remote terrain, complicating enforcement efforts.
The sustained violence has disrupted daily life in the region, leaving communities exposed to insecurity and reinforcing concerns over the durability of recent security gains.
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