BAJAUR: Unknown persons attacked the office of an independent election candidate and local youth leader, Malik Khalid Khan, in Mamond tehsil, police and residents said on Wednesday.

They said the office located in Umary area was attacked by unknown attackers with a hand grenade on Tuesday night. However, they said no one was hurt as the office was empty at the time of the attack.

Mr Khalid had lost the Feb 8 election from PK-19.

The family of Khalid Khan also confirmed the incident, saying guards stationed at a filling station nearby tried to chase the attackers, but they managed to escape the scene soon after the act.

The family and the police sources told Dawn that on January 30, an improvised explosive device planted along a road in Bilot area to target Khalid Khan’s vehicle during the election campaign was defused by the police.

No one claimed responsibility for the grenade attack.

Mamond police station officials said they had launched an investigation into the incident.

Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2024