MANSEHRA: The police have arrested two members of an Afghanistan-based robber gang and their facilitator here and seized arms, ammunition, and stolen gold ornaments, cash and valuables.

District police officer Asif Bahadurtold reporters here on Monday that the arrested men, including Afghan national Aslam Baig and Pakistani citizen Ashfaq Tanoli, had confessed to committing robberies in the recent months.

He said a driver, who first helped robbers cross into the country from Afghanistan via Chaman border and then took them to Hazara division via Punjab. The DPO said the gang was wanted by the police for robberies in other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Balochistan.

He said the police would formally approach the Interpol and Afghan embassy for the arrest of the gangsters and their ringleader in Afghanistan.

“We plan to send a team led by SSP Janis Khan to Afghanistan for the arrest of gangsters,” he said.

Mr Bahadur said the gang robbed two families of Rs25 milliongold, cash and goods in their houses in Hamshiran and Ghazikot Township lately.

ELECTION: A tough competition is expected between two aspirants for the office of the district president of Anjuman-i-Patwarian on April 24.

Both Sajid Jehangiri, a former president of the organisation, and Bashir Khan Swati are going from door to door to canvass.

The Anjuman-i-Patwarian electionsare to be held after almost three years. For the first time, all office-bearers of the organisation except the president, have already been elected unopposed.

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2021