PESHAWAR: The family members of a former tribal senator Abdur Razaq narrowly escaped when a rocket hit his residence in Hayatabad Township on Friday night, police said.

According to police, it was second attack on his house as an improvised explosive device was exploded outside the main gate of his residence on last Sunday night that damaged the main gate and a part of the boundary wall.

The former senator is stated to be maternal uncle of MNA Qaisar Jamal of Darra Adamkhel, who belongs to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.

Habibur Rehman, an eyewitness, told police that he was present inside the house when a rocket hit the third floor of the building. He avoided sharing further details but said that family members of the former senator were inside their rooms and all of them remained unhurt in the attack.

Police said that it could not be ascertained immediately as to wherefrom the rocket was fired. “We are collecting information and recording statements of the people but the actual situation can be known from the family,” an investigator said and added that it looked an extortion-related incident.

A resident of the area said that the blast created panic among the dwellers of the township and many of them came out of their house to ascertain as to what happened. “Terror incidents are taking place very frequently and the law enforcement agencies have failed to overcome these,” he said.

TERRORISTS HELD: The Counter Terrorism Department arrested two alleged terrorists during raids in parts of the provincial metropolis on Saturday.

Sources said that one of the arrested persons identified as Alif Din, an Afghan national, was picked from Jinnah Park.

He is stated to be member of a proscribed militant organisation. He was found collecting donations from the people for the banned terrorist outfit, they added. They said that Rs1.5 million was recovered from the arrested person.

Another man identified as Nazar Mohammad, a resident of Khyber Agency, was arrested from Peshtakhara area. He is said to be a member of Lashkar-i-Islam.

Published in Dawn, May 24th, 2015

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