NOWSHERA/GHALANAI, Feb 2: Unidentified militants blew up seven shops in Nowshera district in the small hours of Saturday, officials said.

They said that militants planted explosives in a CD shop in Shireen Kotay area on Mardan Road and detonated the same. Six nearby shops were also damaged in the blast, they added. Police and bomb disposal squad reached the spot soon after the incident and cordoned off the area.

The officials of bomb disposal squad collected evidence from the scene of occurrence and said that two to three kilograms explosives were used in the explosion.

Police also launched a search operation in the area. Officials said that at least 12 suspects were arrested during the search operation.

In Mohmand Agency, security forces claimed on Saturday to have arrested a would-be suicide bomber and his accomplice during a search operation.

The arrested persons were planning to attack congregations of Friday prayers and jirga meetings in the tribal region, officials of security sources said.

They said that Mohmand Rifles got information that some suspected persons entered the area and wanted to target gatherings of people. The personnel of Mohmand Rifles launched a search operation in Shanikhel, Dawezai and others parts of the tribal agency and arrested a would-be suicide bomber along with his accomplice, they added.

Official sources said that security forces also recovered a huge cache of explosives and bombs during the search operation. — Dawn Report