PESHAWAR: The city police arrested an accused from the Bacha Khan Chowk area and recovered an explosive device from him, while an unknown gunman shot dead an FC trooper here on Friday.

Special Police Unit acting on a tip-off from an intelligence agency arrested Ashiq Hussain and recovered an explosive device weighing around four kilogrammes from his possession. Bomb disposal unit staff defused the bomb, according to a statement.

The accused belonged to Charkhakhel locality of Bhanamari area of the provincial capital. An accomplice of the accused identified as Dilawar Khan, a resident of Safed Dheri, managed to escape from the scene.

The statement said the militants wanted to carry out a sabotage bid on Friday.

Also in the day, an unidentified assailant shot dead a Frontier Constabulary trooper in the limits of Hayatabad police station.

The slain soldier is identified as Basit, a resident of Battatgram area of Charsadda. ASP Hayatabad Waseem Riaz said the incident took place on the Industrial Estate Road, when a motorcyclist opened fire on him.

He said the deceased accompanied another FC sepoy and he was specifically targeted leaving the other unhurt which suggests that it was a matter of personal enmity. The FC solider was posted in Hayatabad. SP Cantonment Kashif Zulfiqar said father of the slain soldier told police they had enmity and would nominate the accused in the FIR.

Published in Dawn, September 24th, 2016