- Police assistant director, IG’s reader among deceased cops.
- AJKTA already notified closure of “incomplete” Lasdana road.
- Law enforcers neutralise four terrorists in Hussain Kot operation.
Five policemen including Assistant Director Zakir Awan and IG’s Reader Ali Bukhari died in a horrific accident after their car fell into a ravine in Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s Dhirkot tehsil.
The incident took place in Lasdana, a tourist destination in AJK’s Bagh district, in which five cops lost their lives. Policemen Fahim, SHO Naveed and Inspector Yasir Kiani were also among the deceased, according to Bagh deputy commissioner.
It is noteworthy to mention here that AJK Transport Authority had issued a notification for closure of Lasdana road for transport on May 16.
In the notification issued to DC Poonch, police department and others, it was directed to close the road of traffic due to incomplete road lacking safety walls and parapet which led to an accident claiming several lives.
It also stated that the relevant authorities should not issue NOC to public transport until completion of the road.
Fatal accidents are common in Pakistan, where traffic rules are rarely followed and roads, particularly in many rural and mountainous areas, are in poor condition.
According to official statistics, traffic accidents in Pakistan dropped by over 33% in 2024 if compared with 2023.
A total of 6,233 traffic accidents took place countrywide in 2024 among which 4,231 were fatal traffic accidents. In 2023, a total number of 9,333 road accidents took place across the country among which 3,820 were fatal traffic accidents.
In Azad Jammu Kashmir, 409 road accidents were reported among which 111 were fatal accidents and 298 were non-fatal accidents. In 2023, AJK reported a total of 391 road accidents where 115 were fatal and 276 were non-fatal accidents.
Four terrorists neutralised in Hussain Kot
In a separate incident, law enforcement agencies (LEAs) neutralised four terrorists in an operation in Hussain Kot — a village in AJK’s Poonch district.
According to the police, two cops were martyred in a grenade attack and firing by terrorists. In response, the law enforcers killed four terrorists during the operation, they added.
