Who shot the policeman dead in Balochistan's Dera Murad Jamali?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Policeman shot dead in Dera Murad Jamali.
- Incident part of rising violence trend in Pakistan.
- Increasing attacks on law enforcement personnel.
- Significant rise in conflict-related fatalities.
- Security situation deteriorating, particularly in Balochistan.
Quetta, Jan 16 (NationPress) A police officer was fatally shot by unknown attackers in the Dera Murad Jamali region of Balochistan, Pakistan, as reported by local news on Friday.
According to authorities, Head Constable Ali Gohar was on his way to the police station when he was ambushed by gunmen near a local school on Thursday, resulting in his immediate death, as detailed by Dawn, a prominent daily in Pakistan. His body was transported to a hospital, and after completing the necessary medico-legal procedures, it was returned to Gohar's family.
This tragic event occurs amidst a concerning uptick in assaults against law enforcement officials in Pakistan, particularly in the volatile border areas of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
On January 4, four police officers lost their lives in two separate shooting incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to police reports. Three officers were killed when unidentified individuals on a motorcycle opened fire on traffic police personnel in Lakki Marwat's Sarai Naurang city, as stated by a police spokesperson, with the assailants fleeing the scene.
The victims were identified as Traffic Police In-charge Naurang Jalal Khan, and Constables Azizullah and Abdullah. In response, police initiated a search operation in the vicinity and commenced an investigation.
In a related incident, another officer was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Mandan, Bannu. Authorities reported that Constable Rashid Khan was targeted while en route to the Mandan Police Station for his duty.
A report indicated a significant deterioration in the security situation within Pakistan in 2025, marking a fifth consecutive year of escalating conflict and violence. The Pakistan Security Report 2025 by PIPS revealed a staggering 699 attacks in the country, reflecting a 34 percent increase from 2024.
In total, 1,034 individuals were killed and 1,366 others injured in these attacks, highlighting a 21 percent rise in fatalities. Incidents related to conflict, including attacks, counterterrorism operations, border skirmishes, and abductions surged to 1,124, indicating a 43 percent increase from the previous year. This troubling trend no longer merely represents setbacks but signals a deepening crisis that is increasingly challenging to manage, according to Dawn.
Security personnel comprise a significant proportion of those casualties, with police stations, patrols, and checkpoints frequently targeted. The report emphasized that attacks predominantly occurred in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Assaults on law enforcement officials have become alarmingly frequent in the southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Insurgents have escalated their tactics in Balochistan, shifting beyond hit-and-run attacks to include highway blockades, kidnappings, and infrastructure destruction. Much of this violence is attributed to religiously motivated factions, particularly the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), as highlighted in the security report.