BAJAUR: An elder of Mamond tribe escaped a roadside bomb blast here in Bajaur tribal district on Wednesday morning.

Residents and police said that the explosion occurred on the Umary-Mamond Road in Billot area.

The residents and family members said that Malik Rahman Gul was on way to Inayat Kallay Bazaar from his native Kas Krewand area when an explosive device planted on the roadside went off near his vehicle.

However, they said that the 50-year-old elder and his driver remained unhurt in the blast.

They added that the vehicle was partially damaged in the explosion.

District police officer Abdul Samad Khan said that a team was immediately moved to the area after the blast, which cordoned-off the locality and started a search operation for the miscreants. He said that the police had also launched an investigation into the explosion to find out the motive and elements involved in it.

No one claimed responsibility for the attack, nor did the elder’s family accuse anyone.

According to his family and residents, Rahman Gul had also contested the union council’s chairman seat in his native area on Pakistan Peoples Party ticket in the December 19 local body elections.

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2022