DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Sept 24: District administration on Saturday stopped entry of Nato containers, coming from the Punjab province, in Dera Ismail Khan on account of security reasons.

Deputy Superintendent of Police of Parwa area, Behawal Khan, said the containers carrying Nato supplies should obtain route permits from the concerned authorities to enter the district.

Witnesses said that about 30 loaded lorries coming from Punjab province to Afghanistan via Peshawar were stopped on the Indus Highway near Ramak. The police sent these vehicles back to Punjab province, they said.

Police officials said the vehicles carrying Nato supplies could not use Indus Highway, therefore, their entry in Dera Ismail Khan was banned. He said that due to security reasons Nato containers should use routes prescribed by the authorities. Nato containers coming from Karachi either use the G.T. Road or the motorway to cross over into Pakistan via the Torkham border.

Meanwhile, the Gomal University police defused an explosive device on an oil tanker carrying fuel to the Nato forces in Afghanistan. Police said two kilogram bomb was planted at a tanker, which was defused by the bomb disposal squad.

FREED: Three kidnapped officials of Tesco reached their homes on Saturday. The officials, including line superintendent Musa Khan Mehsud, linemen Samad Khan and Jehan Zeb Khan, were kidnapped by unknown armed men on Sept 19 while performing duty in Pang area of FR Jandulla, and were shifted to unknown location.

Taking note of the incident army officials directed the political administration of Jandulla to ensure safe recovery of the Tesco officials.

The political administration called a jirga of Bittani tribe and asked them to ensure safe recovery of the kidnapped officials. The political administration set three-day deadline to Bittani elders for recovery of the officials or face stern action.—Correspondent