February 6: Sectarian Clash in Mansehra
A man was shot dead and 14 others were injured as two rival sectarian groups clashed in Mansehra. The injured include a deputy superintendent of police (DSP) and three constables, while the deceased was identified as Muhammad Naseem. Criminal cases have been registered against a member of the provincial assembly (MPA), a prayer leader and over a dozen others from both parties.
The city police quoted a representative of the Jamaat Ahle Sunnat (JAS) as saying that a group of seminary students of Sunehri Mosque and activists of JUI-F pelted stones at participants of the main procession on Eid Miladun Nabi. This resulted in a clash between the parties. The complainant accused JUI-F MPA Mufti Kifyatullah and seminary head Maulana Faizul Bari for the attack, saying that the attackers opened fire at the procession. Later, JAS members blocked the Karakoram Highway to protest against the MPA and other attackers, suspending traffic for over two hours. (Express Tribune)
February 9: Explosives recovered from school in Landikotal
Security forces seized huge quantities of arms and ammunition during a raid on a government school after obtaining information from an arrested militant. Different types of weapons, mortar shells, suicide jackets, mines and explosives were recovered from school rooms and teachers’ quarters. Later, forces defused at least three bombs at a safe location. (Dawn)