Motorcyclist killed in Charsadda blast

CHARSADDA: One person was killed in an explosion on Thursday during the alleged transportation of explosive material on a motorcycle at Akhun Dheri, in the jurisdiction of the Umarzai Police Station.

The sources said Jalal, son of Liaqat, was allegedly transporting seven to eight kilograms of explosive material on his motorcycle early in the morning when it exploded on Hari Chand Road in Akhun Dheri. The explosion left the motorcyclist dead but there were no other casualties as the traffic was thin at the time and no people were around. A heavy contingent of police and a bomb disposal unit reached the site. The police collected evidence.

Cops said the national computerized identity card and wallet of the deceased were found at the scene. Evidence indicated that the deceased motorcyclist was a resident of Umarzai town. The police sent a formal letter to the Counter-Terrorism Department in Mardan to register a case.

Meanwhile, Shakeel Bashir Khan, the district president of the Awami National Party and former MPA, accused his long-time rivals and political opponents, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPA Arshad Umarzai and his brothers, of inciting his driver Jalal against him in exchange for a large sum of money, allegedly planning to use the explosives to target his home and hujra.