ISLAMABAD, July 24 (Agencies): Militants rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a security check post in north-western Pakistan overnight, killing 15 people including soldiers, police and government personnel, the military said on Friday.
"Fifteen brave sons of soil including twelve military, two policemen and a government official ex forest department rendered the ultimate sacrifice and embraced Shahadat (martyrdom)," the military's media wing said in a statement on the latest attack in the border province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Meanwhile, Naqash Zardad was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The education department employee was at his buffalo farm in Rawalakot in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, when violent clashes broke out between police and protesters nearby.
With roads blocked around his farm, Zardad was unable to get home.
Then gunshots were fired.
A stray bullet hit the 30-year-old, killing him instantly, his uncle, Altaf Hussain, told the BBC.
Zardad is one of at least 40 people who have been killed in the run-up to legislative elections in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Of those, 34 were protesters. Six were police and paramilitary personnel. Rawalakot has seen some of the worst violence.
Critics have accused security forces of using excessive violence against protesters participating in long marches and demonstrations called by an alliance of activist groups - the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC).
JAAC has called on people to protest against the reservation of 12 legislative seats in the local assembly for refugees who migrated to Pakistan from Indian-administered Kashmir decades ago.
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