Dawn Report

KHAR, Aug 16: Twenty-nine members of Afghan militant commander Qari Zaiur Rehman group laid down arms and surrendered to security forces while huge cache of arms was also recovered during search operations in Bajaur tribal region on Monday.

Sources said that 29 militants belonging to Qari Zaiur Rehman group voluntarily laid down arms and surrendered to security forces in Charmang areas of tehsil Nawagai.

The surrendered militants were presented before mediapersons. Nine of them were close aides of Qari Zaiur Rehman, sources said. About 100 militants have surrendered to security forces during the last two months in the tribal region.

Separately, security forces during search operation in different areas of Charmang valley recovered huge quantity of weapons and explosives.

MINGORA: Four persons were injured when explosive went off accidentally in a scrap shop in Mingora bazaar on Monday.

Police said that an explosive-filled bottle at the scrap shop of Mohammad Azam exploded and injured four persons. The injured included the owner of the shop, his son Bakht Zamin and two other persons identified as Shakirullah and Mohammad Iqbal, police said.

The injured were shifted to DHQ Hospital Saidu Sharif from where Mr Azam was referred to Peshawar in precarious condition.

DSP Mubarak Khan told journalists that it was just an accident. It was not a sabotage act, he said.

Meanwhile, nine persons drowned when another boat capsized near Kanju in the River Swat on Monday. However, after hectic efforts local people rescued all of them.