MANSEHRA: The Balakot police have arrested a woman for blackmailing her sister and other people by impersonating as a policewoman.

“We have arrested the accused woman and seized a pistol, two fake police cards, along with other documents from her possession,” Fahad Shah, SHO Balakot police station, told reporters on Saturday.

He said a police team, led by him, raided a house and arrested Sonia Bibi, seizing a pistol, a police uniform, and two fake police ID cards bearing her name, along with other documents.

“The accused also attacked her sister, Nirma Bibi, in the Garlat area. After torturing her, she managed to flee after firing shots,” he added.

The SHO said that Nirma Bibi had reported that the accused had been threatening her life and blackmailing other people while impersonating a woman constable.

“We have started an investigation and expect that more people will come forward to lodge complaints of blackmailing,” Mr Shah said.

An FIR has been registered under sections 506(ii) and 171 of Pakistan Penal Code.

Meanwhile, a shop was gutted after a gas cylinder exploded in Channia area on the Abbottabad Road here.

A Rescue 1122 fire tender rushed to the scene and extinguished the fire, which had engulfed the shop and was rapidly spreading to adjacent business centres.

A press release issued by Rescue 1122 stated that the swift response by its personnel prevented the blaze from engulfing adjoining shops and business centres.

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2025