Tragedy averted: Bomb defused near Kabaddi Mela

Nawab of Tank says peaceful Pukhtuns facing multi-faceted menace of violence.

DI KHAN: A remote-controlled bomb planted on the ground near a Kabaddi Mela was defused by the police and bomb disposal unit (BDU), shared an official of the Saddar police.

According to the official, the bomb was planted in Aba Khel village, approximately 15 kilometres west of Tank city. On the basis of intelligence reports, police and BDU reached the scene on time and defused the bomb before it could cause a tragedy, added the official.

After the incident, the people attending the mela panicked and scattered but returned when the bomb was defused and the sports activities resumed.

Nawab Sadaat Khan, locally known as the Nawab of Tank, was the chief guest on the occasion. While addressing the gathering, he said, “Pukhtuns are a peaceful people faced with the menace of bomb blasts, drone attacks and military’s airstrikes.”  He maintained his door is open – to provide a venue for negotiations between the Taliban and the government if it achieves lasting peace.

The Nawab is a relative of Mangla Corps Commander Lieutenant General Tariq Khan and a prominent figure of the area. Police officials said it was unclear whether the bomb’s intended target was the Nawab or not. A case against unidentified perpetrators has been registered at the Saddar Police Station.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 10^th, 2014.