MARDAN/PARACHINAR, Jan 26: A watchman was killed and two guards were injured when an explosive device went off outside the residence of a local industrialist at Par Hoti area here on the night between Sunday and Saturday.

Police and bomb disposal squad officials told journalists that unidentified persons had planted an improvised explosive device outside the residence of Haji Samiur Rehman that went off during the night.

A watchman identified as Musa Khan was killed on the spot while two guards -- Khairullah and Umair -- were injured in the blast. The injured guards were shifted to district headquarters hospital for treatment.

The bomb disposal squad officials said that the device weighed at least two kilograms. Hoti police station registered a case against unidentified persons and started investigation.

In Kurram Agency, militants looted passengers and set three vehicles on fire on Saturday, official sources said.

They said that the incident took place in Masozai area of the troubled central tehsi of Kurram Agency. They said that the passengers were coming from Khyber Agency to Kurram Agency in three double-cabin pickup trucks.

Asghar Khan, a passenger, said that around 100 armed men stopped their vehicles in Zara Mela area and snatched cash and other valuables from them.

He said that the armed men set the vehicles on fire after looting the passengers.

Opinion

Editorial

IMF’s projections
Updated 18 Apr, 2024

IMF’s projections

The problems are well-known and the country is aware of what is needed to stabilise the economy; the challenge is follow-through and implementation.
Hepatitis crisis
18 Apr, 2024

Hepatitis crisis

THE sheer scale of the crisis is staggering. A new WHO report flags Pakistan as the country with the highest number...
Never-ending suffering
18 Apr, 2024

Never-ending suffering

OVER the weekend, the world witnessed an intense spectacle when Iran launched its drone-and-missile barrage against...
Saudi FM’s visit
Updated 17 Apr, 2024

Saudi FM’s visit

The government of Shehbaz Sharif will have to manage a delicate balancing act with Pakistan’s traditional Saudi allies and its Iranian neighbours.
Dharna inquiry
17 Apr, 2024

Dharna inquiry

THE Supreme Court-sanctioned inquiry into the infamous Faizabad dharna of 2017 has turned out to be a damp squib. A...
Future energy
17 Apr, 2024

Future energy

PRIME MINISTER Shehbaz Sharif’s recent directive to the energy sector to curtail Pakistan’s staggering $27bn oil...