SP Hangu Asad Zubair’s death highlights urgent need for bulletproof vehicles in KP

HANGU: The killing of Superintendent of Police (SP) Operations Hangu Asad Zubair Khan and two constables in twin bomb blasts has once again underscored the dire need for bulletproof vehicles for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Police.

SP Asad Zubair Khan, along with his driver Atif and constable Kifayat, was martyred on Friday, October 24, 2025, when their vehicle was targeted by twin improvised explosive devices (IEDs) near a police checkpost in Hangu.

Police officials said the blasts directly hit the SP’s vehicle, which was not bulletproof, leading to the fatalities.

According to official sources, SP Asad Zubair did not have access to an armored vehicle while traveling to a sensitive area. At the same location, sources added, a station house officer (SHO) was targeted in a previous attack, and an attempted assault on a district police officer (DPO) was also foiled in the past.

Despite Hangu’s sensitive security profile, the district reportedly had only one bulletproof vehicle, currently assigned to the DPO. Sources said that KP Police urgently require bulletproof vehicles for officers up to the DSP level to ensure operational safety.

The federal government had recently provided state-of-the-art bulletproof vehicles to the KP Police. However, the province’s newly elected Chief Minister, Mohammad Sohail Afridi, returned the fleet, calling the vehicles “outdated and expired.”

The decision has drawn sharp criticism from Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, who termed it an “irresponsible and regrettable move” at a time when terror threats in KP are escalating.

Security officials and police sources have urged immediate steps to strengthen protection for field officers, stressing that the lack of armored vehicles continues to place law enforcement personnel at serious risk in one of the most volatile regions.

The federal government on Wednesday announced it will provide state-of-the-art bulletproof vehicles to the Balochistan government after KP’s refusal.