LAKKI MARWAT: Several suspects were arrested during a search and strike operation in Lakki Marwat district on Sunday.

District police officer Mohammad Jawad Ishaq told Dawn that the operation was launched to tighten noose around criminals and anti-peace elements so as to maintain law and order and avert any untoward incident during Eidul Azha.

He said temporary checkpoints were also established at all the entry and exit points. “Commandos of Elite Force and Al-Barq Force and bomb disposal squad experts backed by armnoured personnel carriers also assisted police during the operation,” he said, adding the offensive was aimed to bring miscreants and their facilitators, drug barons and anti-state elements into clutches of laws and provide a peaceful and safe environment to citizens.

The district police chief said the cops also checked data of suspected individuals and vehicles with the help of criminal record and vehicle verification systems.

Meanwhile, Bannu regional police officer Sajjad Khan inspected security arrangements and ongoing civil works at Mazanga, Fatehkhel and Kinger Pul police posts in Bannu on Sunday.

DPO Saleem Abbas Kulachi also accompanied him. He also checked deployment and presence of cops and availability of weapons at the installations and issued instructions to the subordinate police officials to further improve security measures.

SHOT DEAD: A young man was shot dead over murder enmity in Mela Mandi Bazaar of Lakki Marwat city on Sunday.

Police said Saqibullah, 27, and his cousin, Mohammad Jawad, 21, confronted their rivals, Sajjad and Sohail, in the bazaar. They said Sajjad and Sohail, who were armed with pistols, opened fire, killing Saqibullah on the spot, while Jawad miraculously escaped.

The body was shifted to the Government City Hospital.

Later, Jawad told police that the family had a murder enmity with the suspected killers, who had also killed Inamullah, brother of Saqibullah, in the past.

Separately, another young man was murdered over a petty dispute in the Kherukhel Pacca area of Ghaznikhel.

Police said Waheeduddin, 27, was killed by Feroz Khan and his son, Zeeshan.

Ihsanullah, a cousin of the deceased who remained unhurt in the attack, told police that the firing occurred when they were going to a mosque to offer evening prayers.

Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2025