BAJAUR: Authorities shut all educational institutions in Lowi Mamund and War Mamund tehsils of Bajaur until August 8 owing to the prevailing security situation in the region, according to a notification issued here on Friday.

The notification issued from the deputy commissioner’s office said that the move was taken as per the decision of the additional chief secretary for interior and tribal affairs, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The notification, a copy of which was available with Dawn, stated that besides public educational institutions, all private and community institutions will also be closed to ensure the security of students.

“The district education officer is hereby directed to immediately inform the teachers, students, and general public of the mentioned areas about the decision through effective publicity,” the notification said.

It is important to mention here that a military operation named ‘Sarbakaf’ is underway in 16 areas of Lowi Mamund region against terrorists. The decision came at a time when all educational institutions in the district had just reopened on Friday after a month-long summer vacation.

Meanwhile, the police on Friday arrested two senior members of the banned Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) for allegedly shouting slogans against state institutions during a rally.

District police officer Waqas Rafique told reporters that action against both the PTM leaders, including its provincial coordinator Ghirat Khan and Bajaur coordinator Suliman, was taken after they raised slogans against state institutions during a peace march held in the district on Friday.

“Both PTM leaders were arrested under the Section 3 of Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance,” said DPO Rafique.

ATTACK REPULSED: The police repulsed an attack on Mena post in Mamund tehsil on Thursday night, officials said on Friday.

They told this correspondent that terrorists targeted the police post with a rocket.

However, they said no loss of life was reported in the attack, which prompted the police personnel present at the post to respond quickly.

They said the effective response by cops stationed at the post forced the terrorists to flee the area.

No group claimed responsibility for the attack, which comes days after an attack on a joint police-FC checkpost in the Thangi area of Salarzai tehsil on Sunday night.

Published in Dawn, August 2nd, 2025