Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan sought a report from the provincial police chief after a police mobile patrol came under gunfire in Lakki Marwat on Wednesday morning.
State-run Radio Pakistan has reported that six police personnel, including an assistant sub-inspector and the driver, have been killed in what it described as a terror attack.
In a statement, CM Mahmood Khan said the incident was "very unfortunate" and the "sacrifice of the martyrs will not be in vain". He also extended condolences to the bereaved families.
Later, a statement from the KP police's public relations office said the province's inspector general (IG), Moazzam Jah Ansari, had taken strict notice of the "targeted killing" in Lakki Marwat.
The statement said the IG made an emergency visit to Lakki Marwat after the incident and paid tributes to the martyrs for their courage and bravery.
"Cowardly acts" by miscreants could not bring down police's morale, the statement quoted the IG as saying, adding that he had directed relevant authorities to immediately arrest the culprits.
He vowed to continue the fight against terrorists until the last of them was eliminated.
CONDEMNATIONS
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also strongly condemned the incident. In a statement, he said "terrorists are the enemies of Pakistan and every possible step will be taken to safeguard the country".
Paying tribute to the slain policemen, he said the "whole nation salutes the sons of the soil who sacrificed their lives for the motherland".
He urged the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to immediately announce Shuhada package for the martyred police personnel.
National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Deputy Speaker Zahid Durrani condemned the attack. They "also urged Govt. to act against terrorist with full force," according to a statement tweeted by the National Assembly.
Wednesday's attack has come amid a resurgence of violence in KP and as citizens continue to hold frequent demonstrations, demanding the restoration of peace.
Last month, thousands of people in KP took to the streets to show their resolve against terror after a school van in Charbagh came under gunfire, leaving the driver dead and two children injured.
Earlier this month, two persons, including an assistant sub-inspector of the counter-terrorism department, were seriously injured when armed motorcyclists attacked them while they were coming out of a mosque in Kohat.
The incident had occurred a day after a policeman was martyred in firing by miscreants in Lakki Marwat.
