
Over 50 killed, dozens injured in accidents and shootings during Eid in northwest Pakistan
PESHAWAR: At least 55 people were killed and 50 others injured in various incidents across Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province during the three days of Eid Al-Adha, rescue officials said on Monday.
The fatalities were reported in traffic accidents, drowning incidents, fires and gun violence across multiple districts, including the provincial capital, Peshawar. The injured were taken to local hospitals for medical treatment, according to a statement released by Rescue 1122.
'The total number of deaths across the province during the Eid holidays has reached 55,' Shah Fahad, Director General of Rescue 1122 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said. 'Fifty others were injured in shooting incidents and provided emergency medical aid.'
According to the data, Rescue 1122 responded to about 2,000 emergencies and provided medical assistance to 1,897 individuals across the province during Eid.
These included 1,400 medical emergencies, 349 traffic accidents, 112 fire incidents, six drowning cases and 50 crime-related incidents.
In Peshawar alone, the agency handled 418 emergency calls, including 43 road accidents, 338 medical cases, 20 fire incidents and eight gun-related injuries. A total of 431 patients were transported to hospitals in the city.
District-wise, the highest number of fatalities was reported in Mardan (14) and Peshawar (13).
Fire incidents on festive occasions in the province are often caused by barbecues or fireworks, while traffic accidents typically stem from congestion, reckless driving by youth and occasional road rage.
Drowning incidents occur when people visit rivers or lakes for boating without adequate safety measures, and gun-related injuries often result from either criminal activity or celebratory gunfire.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Arab News
10 hours ago
- Arab News
PM Sharif seeks action after two police officers shot dead in northwest Pakistan
PESHAWAR: Two police officers were shot and killed when unidentified assailants opened fire on their mobile patrol van in Swabi, a district in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday directing authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice. The attack took place around 10:00 p.m. Friday night near a roadside kiosk within the jurisdiction of the Gadoon police station, according to Abdul Majid, a senior police officer in Swabi. The officers had briefly stopped to get water when they were ambushed by gunmen on a motorbike. 'Terrorists riding a motorbike opened fire on the police party,' Majid told Arab News over the phone. 'Two officers were martyred on the spot.' Militant attacks in KP, particularly by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), have increased in recent years, with security forces, government officials and civilians often targeted. The Pakistani military and law enforcement agencies have launched intelligence-based operations to curb the violence, but attacks have persisted. Following the shooting, a large police contingent was deployed to the area to secure the scene, collect forensic evidence and launch a search operation. No arrests have been made so far, and the investigation is ongoing. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the Swabi attack and expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of the police officers. 'We pay tribute to the martyrs and pray for patience for their families,' he said in a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office. Sharif directed authorities to investigate the incident and ensure those responsible are brought to justice. 'The war against terrorism will continue until this scourge is eradicated from the country,' he said, praising the efforts of police officers fighting on the front lines.


Arab News
a day ago
- Arab News
Suspected drone strike kills child, injures five in Pakistan's South Waziristan
PESHAWAR: A suspected drone strike killed one child and injured five others in a remote village of Pakistan's South Waziristan district on Friday, triggering protests by local residents who demanded greater security and clarity from the authorities. The incident took place in the Dashka settlement near Makeen, a mountainous region that is part of the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan. Local officials said the origin of the drone was still unknown, but the strike has renewed concerns following a similar attack last month in nearby North Waziristan that killed four children and sparked days of demonstrations. 'The attack took place at around 11:30 a.m.,' Abdul Qadir, a senior police officer in the district, told Arab News over the phone. 'The children, aged between four and 11, were immediately rushed to Razmak Hospital for emergency medical treatment.' Reacting to the development, Asif Khan Mehsud, a provincial lawmaker from the area, said his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Party (PTI) had consistently opposed drone strikes on Pakistani soil, labeling them a gross violation of human rights. 'This reckless attack on innocent civilians must be investigated,' he added. Last month, a suspected quadcopter drone strike in Mir Ali, North Waziristan, killed four children and injured others, prompting mass protests and a statement from the military's media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations. The military said it had carried out an investigation into the incident, denied involvement and blamed the attack on militant groups, while residents demanded accountability and security guarantees. On Friday, people in Makeen launched a protest sit-in, seeking protection rather than compensation, as local elders met with police and security officials to voice their outrage. 'We are not safe even in our own homes,' said Muhammad Jan, a tribal elder participating in the protest. 'What we demand is not money or charity. We want protection and peace.' He added that tribal elders would continue dialogue with local authorities to explore long-term security arrangements for the area. Pakistan's northwestern tribal belt has witnessed militant violence, military operations and US drone attacks in the past. While US-led international forces pulled out of Afghanistan in August 2021, the issue of militancy continues, prompting security forces to launch intelligence-based operations in these areas.


Arab News
2 days ago
- Arab News
Islamabad's first woman to lead men's police station takes on drug lords, land mafia
ISLAMABAD: Tucked amid the dust and bustle of Islamabad's fringes, the suburb of Phulgran has long been a magnet for trouble: drug dens, land-grabbing, and a loose grip on law and order. But now, it has something new: a phenomenon. In her blue uniform and a modest headscarf, Misbah Shahbaz quietly took charge in 2025 as Station House Officer (SHO) of Phulgran, Islamabad's first-ever female SHO at a general, or men's, police station. The post of SHO is one of the most visible and operationally significant leadership roles in Pakistan's police hierarchy, responsible for crime investigation, public safety, and station-level administration. Until now, female SHOs in Islamabad had only led women police stations. 'It's a historic decision, and I feel very proud,' Shahbaz told Arab News as she walked through a briefing with her team. Phulgran sits at the nexus of rural sprawl and urban ambition, where narcotics and land mafias thrive. Shahbaz's three-fold roadmap is simple: Clean up the drug trade, target land-grab networks, and raise the ethical bar in policing. Methodical yet unspoken in her stride, she is already tackling the tough territory: 'Drug trafficking is a major concern. I've already developed strategies … and God willing, you'll soon see the results.' Her academic résumé reads like an MBA case study: she holds a Master's and an MBA. But she insisted: 'I've always been drawn to the uniform … This was never about the degree, it was about a passion to serve.' Back in 2012, Shahbaz took one of the 87 Assistant Sub-Inspector slots based strictly on merit. And that was just the beginning of a journey in which she says her male colleagues largely treated her as an equal. 'I was lucky to have excellent mentors, all-male officers who treated me no differently,' she said. 'They taught me the finer points of investigation, from identifying subtle clues to interviewing techniques.' Today, when Shahbaz rolls through Phulgran in her official vehicle, residents pause. Men nod, women whisper encouragement and in the sidewalks, young girls see her, and absorb a message: you, too, can wear the badge. 'She's not less than any man,' a constable under her command said. 'In fact, she leads better.' TURNING TIDE? Let's zoom out: Pakistan's police force is staggeringly male. According to the National Police Bureau (NPB) and UN Women Pakistan as of 2023, only about 3.2 % of officers are women, just 15,509 women out of 489,645 total. And while Islamabad fares slightly better, with around 5% of women, most provinces hover at 1–4%. A mandatory 10 % quota exists but the officers actually recruited, trained, and retained are far fewer. In some provinces, it's under 1%. So, Shahbaz's promotion is more than symbolic. She's a breakthrough not just for Islamabad but for an entire force held back by gender disparity. With so few female officers, women are often reluctant to report crimes, especially those involving domestic or gender-based issues. Experts also say the absence of women in decision-making and field leadership reduces community trust in law enforcement. Female officers like Shahbaz could change that balance. And her rise isn't just a personal triumph. It's the latest clue in the slow shift in a system where less than 1 in 30 cops is a woman. As the police officer said: 'Islamabad Police already have a reputation for professionalism but I want to raise the bar so that every citizen feels heard and respected.'