Attack on Daraban police station damages building, nearby shops

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Militants attacked the Daraban police station on Friday night with rocket launchers and heavy gunfire, damaging the police building and nearby commercial properties, police said.

Officials said the assailants, whom police described as members of Fitna al Khawarij — a term used by the state for militants belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan — launched a sudden late-night assault on the station.

According to police, the attackers used rocket launchers during the raid, causing the boundary wall of the police station to collapse. Several shops and other business outlets located next to the station were also badly affected because of the intensity of the attack.

Police personnel returned fire and repelled the assault after an exchange of gunfire, officials said. The attackers later fled the area after encountering resistance from the police.

No casualties were reported in the incident.

After the attack, a heavy police contingent reached the area and began a search operation to trace the militants who had escaped, officials added.

Two held with Iranian currency

In a separate development, police said they recovered illegal Iranian currency worth more than Rs4.49 billion during an operation in the suburban circle on Saturday and arrested two suspects.

The operation was conducted under the supervision of SP City Mohammad Nauman, while DSP Suburb Circle and SHO Shorkot Aftab Alam Baloch led the action.

Officials said police stopped a car during checking and detained two men travelling in it. They were identified as Aminullah, a resident of Chaman, and Naqeebullah, a resident of Quetta.

During a search of the vehicle, police said they found Iranian currency amounting to Rs4.499 billion hidden in concealed compartments, along with five mobile phones.

The two suspects, as well as the recovered currency and mobile phones, were handed over to the Federal Investigation Agency for further legal proceedings.

Power theft crackdown

Meanwhile, authorities of the Peshawar Electric Supply Company launched a campaign against electricity theft in the city on Saturday, removing a number of illegal connections and warning of strict legal action against those involved.

The operation was led by Pesco City Division Executive Engineer Imran Khan Gandapur.

Officials said the campaign was carried out near Mohallah Laghariwala and Madrassa Alauddin, where teams removed several illegal direct connections, commonly known as kundas.