LAKKI MARWAT: Police averted a subversive bid by defusing a bomb in Kacha Bachak area of Bannu district on Saturday.

A police official said unknown miscreants had planted an explosive device along the Bannu-DI Khan Road to target law enforcement personnel.

He said residents spotted the suspected material and informed police, who rushed to the place and called out the bomb disposal squad.

“The BDS personnel defused the home-made bomb weighing eight kilogrammes, and it was made of a bucket containing explosives and ball bearings,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bannu deputy commissioner Abdul Hameed has banned display of arms and festive firing for one week in the district.

An official said on Saturday that the restrictions were imposed on the request of district police officer for peaceful observance of the Eid festival and averting nefarious plans of miscreants and anti-social elements.

“Other restrictions included pillion-riding and over-speeding, wheelie, use of tinted glass in vehicles, fireworks and crackers and music programmes,” he said.

ARMS SEIZED: The police recovered a large quantity of arms and ammunition from a car in Karak district on Saturday.

A police official said after receiving information about the possible attempt to smuggle weapons from Darra Adamkhel to southern districts, district police officer Shahbaz Elahi tasked subordinate officials with foiling the bid.

He said the police established temporary checking points on the Indus Highway.

“When driver of a car approached a checkpoint and noticed police presence, he immediately made a U-turn to avoid arrest,” the official said.

He said the police intercepted the car after a brief chase and arrested two suspects.

“During search, the cops seized 35 pistols, nine AK-47 assault rifles, two repeater guns, a kalakov rifle, 89 spare magazines, thousands of bullets and fake number plates of vehicles from the car,” he claimed, saying a case was registered against the arrested men under relevant sections of law.

The official said the seized weapons were likely to be used in terrorist acts during Eid days.

Published in Dawn, March 30th, 2025