LANDI KOTAL: The security forces on Friday detained six local journalists and a Landi Kotal Press Club employee for interrogation after a remote-controlled explosive device was found attached to a reporter’s vehicle during the National Vintage Car Rally.

A journalist along with a khasadar official had spotted a ‘suspicious object’ fitted to the rear of the car of private TV channel correspondent Khalil Afridi when the media was busy covering the car rally at the Charwazgai crossing in Landi Kotal.

The khasadar personnel and other security officials deployed there immediately called the bomb disposal squad, which defused the explosive device weighing two kilogrammes.

The security forces later took Khalil Afridi, Farhad Shinwari, Umar Khan, Mehran Afridi and Imran Khattak into custody and shifted them to the Army Camp for questioning.

They later called journalist Sajid Mian and press club employee Hussain Ali to the camp for interrogation. Sajid Mian had spotted the explosive device.

When contacted after an emergency meeting, the political administration told local journalists that the detainees would be freed after security forces and intelligence agencies completed interrogation.

The journalists demanded the immediate release of detainees.

Earlier, the car rally’s participants were accorded a warm welcome on arrival at the Michni checkpost near Torkham border.

They were later seen off in an official escort for their countrywide journey.

Around 60 vintage cars are taking part in event with some driven by women.

Published in Dawn, November 25th, 2017