Two killed as rival families trade fire in Lower Dir

Published June 3, 2026 Updated June 3, 2026 07:04am

LOWER DIR: Two persons were killed on Tuesday in a shooting allegedly stemming from a dispute between two families in the Bhatan village of Adenzai on Tuesday, the police and residents said.

The deceased were identified as Mukhtiar Ali, 25, and his uncle, Chaman Zada, 56, both residents of the Bhatan area of Ouch. The Ouch police said a case had been registered and an investigation was underway.

In a separate incident a day earlier, a young PhD scholar, Dr Ibrahim Khan, was killed after being struck by a bullet while inside a mosque in Kundo village of Khall tehsil.

According to Khall police, Dr Khan, a resident of Kundo, was studying in the mosque when a bullet struck him in the forehead.

Police said the source of the gunfire and the circumstances surrounding the incident had yet to be determined.

The scholar was pursuing doctoral studies in London and had returned home to spend Eidul Azha with his family.

Meanwhile, the Timergara police claimed a significant seizure of illegal weapons during an operation.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Timergara Circle, Amjad Ali and SHO Timergara, Inspector Ikramullah Khan, said police intercepted an unregistered vehicle at the Zulam Bridge checkpost during a late-night operation.

They said the search led to the recovery of two Kalashnikovs, a repeater gun, a 9mm pistol, two Kalashnikov magazines and a 30-bore pistol.

Police arrested the suspect, identified as Sahib Gul, a resident of Bajaur district.

A case has been registered against him at the Timergara police station.

NCP VEHICLES: Deputy Commissioner Basharat Ahmad on Tuesday chaired a meeting to review the ongoing profiling of non-custom-paid (NCP) vehicles in Lower Dir.

Officials from the Excise and Taxation Department briefed the forum on the progress of the profiling exercise. The meeting was informed that 29 profiling centres had been established across the district and that profiling of approximately 3,703 NCP vehicles had been completed between May 11 and May 31.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Ahmad directed officials to expedite the profiling process at checkpoints and designated centres. He warned that action would be taken against owners of NCP vehicles who fail to complete profiling by June 7.

The deputy commissioner said the profiling centres remain operational on Saturdays and Sundays.

Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2026