KOHAT: The Bilitang police arrested 35 suspects, including six Afghan nationals, during a search operation in its jurisdiction here on Friday.

The Afghan nationals were arrested under 14 Foreign Act and put in prison for their repatriation to their native country. The police also seized illegal arms from the detainees.

The search operation was conducted against outlaws in Shadikhel, Kamalkhel and Bhawalgarh areas in the jurisdiction of Billitang police station.

During the action, the police made complete screening of houses and hideouts of criminals and apprehended 35 suspects, including six Afghan nationals residing illegally in the area.

The police also recovered arms and ammunition. DSP Saddar circle Hussain Ghulam Bangash, who supervised the operation, said that these measures were being taken to improve law and order situation in the district. The police have started interrogation after registering cases against those arrested at the respective police stations.

Meanwhile, the police recovered a stolen motorcycle from a house in Garhi Risaldar on Friday.

A statement issued here from the DPO office said that a gang of motorcycle lifters had snatched a motorcycle on Thursday last from a man on Bannu-Kohat road.

The police raided the house and took into custody Jawad Iqbal and his accomplice Zahid along with the stolen motorcycle. They were presented in a court which sent them to the Kohat prison.

POLITICAL GATHERING: An important gathering was arranged by members of the politically strong Nawabzada family at Zafar House in Kharamato, which created a stir in political circles here on Friday.

It was attended by Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl leader Gohar Saifullah, PTI MPA Ziaullah Bangash and district councillors Sajid Iqbal, Waheed Hayat, Naseem Afridi, JUI-F leader of Billitang Misbahuddin and others.

It was expected that Nawabzada Hashim Ali Khan and former tehsil nazim Dilbar Khan, who hosted the party, would announce their joining of any political party, but they gave an indication to their close allies that they would make such a decision after announcement of next general elections.

The Nawabzada family had been instrumental in influencing the Kohat elections in the past, particularly in KP-37.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2016