Five policemen, including Assistant Director Zakir Awan and IG’s Reader Ali Bukhari, tragically died in a horrific accident after their vehicle plunged into a ravine in Dhirkot tehsil of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The unfortunate incident occurred in Lasdana, a tourist destination in AJK’s Bagh district, resulting in the loss of five police officers. According to the Bagh deputy commissioner, policemen Fahim, SHO Naveed, and Inspector Yasir Kiani were also among those who perished.
It is pertinent to note that the AJK Transport Authority had previously issued a notification on May 16, announcing the closure of the Lasdana road for all transport.
The notification, which was sent to the DC Poonch, the police department, and other relevant entities, directed the closure of the road to traffic due to its incomplete state, lacking safety walls and parapets, which had previously led to accidents claiming several lives. It also stipulated that concerned authorities should not issue No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to public transport until the road’s completion.
Fatal accidents are a frequent occurrence in Pakistan, where traffic regulations are often disregarded and road conditions, particularly in many rural and mountainous regions, remain poor.
According to official statistics, traffic accidents in Pakistan witnessed a decline of over 33% in 2024 compared to 2023. A total of 6,233 traffic accidents were recorded nationwide in 2024, of which 4,231 were fatal. In contrast, 2023 saw a total of 9,333 road accidents across the country, with 3,820 being fatal.
In Azad Jammu and Kashmir, 409 road accidents were reported, comprising 111 fatal accidents and 298 non-fatal incidents. In 2023, AJK recorded a total of 391 road accidents, with 115 fatal and 276 non-fatal occurrences.
Four Terrorists Neutralized in Hussain Kot Operation
In a separate development, law enforcement agencies (LEAs) successfully neutralized four terrorists during an operation conducted in Hussain Kot, a village located in AJK’s Poonch district.
Police reported that two police officers were martyred in a grenade attack and subsequent firing by terrorists. In response, law enforcers engaged and killed four terrorists during the operation, they added.
