TIMERGARA, Feb 22: The Balambat police claimed on Tuesday to have arrested two close relatives of the Taliban commander Hafizullah in connection with the attack on ANP Senator Zahid Khan's hujra.

Briefing local media persons, the Station House Officer Naeem Khan said a special police party, on a tip off, raided a house at Khall and took into custody two accused identified as Ali Bacha, son of Umat Khan and Zahid Hussain, son of Hazrat Hussain, residents of Wari area of Upper Dir.

He said the accused were mastermind of the deadly attack on Senator Zahid Khan's hujra on Jan 25, this year in which a guard had been killed while Mohammad Ayub, brother of Zahid Khan, along with two other relatives had been injured.

The SHO said both the accused were close relatives of the Taliban commander in Dir Hafizullah who had been under ground since the launch of military operation in the area. He said the arrested persons had been taken to an undisclosed location for further interrogation.

“We are hopeful to have more disclosures,” he said, adding that currently both of them had settled in Shergarh area of Mardan. Dawn

The injured ANP leader Ayub Khan is still under treatment. The Taliban in 2009 had also blown up his guest house in Odigram area of Lower Dir and the family had been receiving life threats from militants in the past, family sources told .

TRADERS' PROTEST: The Chakdara traders' body on Tuesday threatened to hold protests if a lifted vehicle was not recovered and thieves arrested within a week.

Talking to journalists at Chakdara press club the traders' leaders said a vehicle of Sherin Zada was lifted from Chakdara bazaar six months ago.

Meanwhile, the all physical education teachers' association, Lower Dir, during a meeting on Tuesday appreciated the provincial government for awarding pay scale 15 to graduate PETs working in government schools.