QUETTA, July 19: Two persons have been arrested in connection with the attempt on the life of Maulana Mohammad Khan Sherani, Amir of the Balochistan chapter of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, an official said.

Qila Saifullah's District Administrative Officer Mohammad Ikhtiar Bangulzai told this correspondent over telephone that after the occurrence of the incident, the accused had been arrested by the Levies staff when they attempted to escape from the scene.

They had been identified as Hafta Khan and Karim Shah, he added. A motorcycle, a pistol, a telescope and a remote control device used in the incident had also been recovered from their possession, he said.

The district administrative officer declined to comment about the affiliation of the accused and their actual motives and said that it was too premature to say anything in this regard. He, however, said that the case and the accused had been handed over to the Police's Crimes Branch. -APP