According to sources, two assailants opened fire at the police vehicle and managed to flee from the spot. Station House Officer (SHO) Tahir Nawaz and other officers sustained critical injuries.
SHO Tahir Nawaz and two passers by who sustained injuries in the shootout were shifted to a hospital for treatment.
District Police Officer (DPO) Dr Iqbal said the policemen were on a routine patrol in a mobile van in Mara area of Purwa tehsil when unidentified armed men opened fire on them. The assailants escaped the scene after the attack.
The martyred policemen were identified as SHO Purwa Police Station Tahir Nawaz, constables Sarfaraz, Mir Baz, Asif and driver Javed. Two passers-by were also injured in the firing who were taken to hospital.
Police cordoned off the entire area after the incident and launched a search operation. However, no arrest was made till filing of this report.
Policemen often come under attack from militants in Dera Ismail Khan which shares a border with South Waziristan.
Rescue officials rushed to the spot and shifted the injured officers to a hospital for medical attention. Meanwhile, further investigation is underway.