PESHAWAR: The initial investigation into the recent explosion at the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Police Station in Peshawar has concluded that the blast occurred due to a short circuit in the CTD’s malkhana (arms and evidence storehouse). The incident resulted in the martyrdom of one CTD police official and injuries to two others, while timely action by law enforcement prevented further destruction.

According to the official spokesperson of Peshawar Police, a detailed inquiry is underway to determine the exact circumstances that led to the explosion and to assess whether safety protocols were being followed at the time. Inspector General (IG) of Police Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Zulfiqar Hameed, has directed Additional IG CTD to submit a comprehensive report within five days.

Police officials stated that the explosion took place late Thursday night inside the CTD compound, located in the provincial capital’s sensitive security zone. The blast was initially feared to be an act of terrorism; however, forensic and technical teams, after examining the site, determined that it was likely caused by an electrical short circuit in the section where seized explosives and ammunition were stored as case property.

“The evidence so far suggests that the blast was accidental and not a terrorist attack,” the police spokesperson confirmed. “The presence of old and sensitive explosive materials in the malkhana made the area highly vulnerable to ignition once the electrical fault occurred.”

He added that the police and security forces’ swift response prevented a larger catastrophe, as they quickly cordoned off the area, evacuated nearby personnel, and initiated fire control measures. “Had the rescue teams and bomb disposal unit not acted immediately, the damage could have been far greater, given the nature of the materials stored inside,” he said.

The explosion reportedly caused significant structural damage to part of the building, including the storage room and adjacent offices. Rescue 1122 teams reached the scene shortly after the blast, while injured personnel were shifted to Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) for treatment. Hospital authorities later confirmed that the injured officers were out of danger.

Following the incident, the CTD has launched a departmental review to enhance safety measures in malkhanas across the province. Officials acknowledged that many evidence storerooms still contain old, unstable explosives seized in various anti-terror operations, posing ongoing risks to staff and facilities.

An internal security circular has since been issued to all police stations and CTD branches in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, instructing them to immediately assess the condition of their stored materials and relocate any hazardous items to secure disposal sites under the supervision of the Bomb Disposal Unit (BDU).