Terrorist attacks claim more lives in Pakistan ahead of election; 36 children die of pneumonia in 10 days

Five police officers and a civilian were killed on January 10 in separate attacks in Pakistan’s restive northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province bordering Afghanistan, local media reported.

Two police officers were killed in an attack claimed by the Pakistani Taliban in the province’s city of Bannu. In a separate incident, about a dozen armed militants attacked a police checkpoint on a northwestern highway, killing three policemen and a civilian before fleeing.

Also on Wednesday, gunmen opened fire on a car carrying local politician Kaleem Ullah, killing him and two of his associates as he were campaigning for a seat in the provincial assembly in the Feb. 8 election.

The Punjab caretaker government on Wednesday said that at least 36 children died of pneumonia in Punjab during the last 10 days due to increase in cold weather.

To save children from catching pneumonia, the government has decided to impose a ban on holding a morning assembly in schools till Jan 31.