KOHAT, March 17: The Kohat police arrested eight criminals and seized weapons in a raid on a den of proclaimed offenders on the outskirts of the city on Saturday.

The den was being operated by notorious criminal Patho Pir, who is wanted in 68 murder cases and six cases of highway robberies.

According to ASP Nisar Tanoli, Patho Pir escaped from the den before the raid. Pir twice threatened two journalists with dire consequences when they reported against him, and took an extortion of Rs50,000 and two sheep from one of the journalists.

The then SSP, now suspended, did not take any action against the criminal and refused to help the journalists.

The weapons seized in the raid were: two pistols, one Kalashnikov, one 12-bore rifle, one repeater.

The police recovered a stolen Mercedes car.

Those arrested were named as Tariq, Haroon, Asif, Muslim Yaqoot, Wali Khan, Mamoor Shah, Ibrar Shah and Pir Shah.