Two killed in militant attacks in northwest Pakistan

Islamabad, Jul 1 (PTI) Two persons were killed Wednesday
in attacks by militants in Pakistan's troubled northwest,
where security forces have been battling the Taliban for the
past two months.

One soldier was killed and four more were injured when
militants fired six rockets at the cantonment in Nowshera in
North West Frontier Province. Police said one of the rockets
landed in a residential area, causing casualties.

Police launched a search for the assailants shortly after
the attack.

In Dera Ismail Khan town, a passerby was killed and
another was injured when militants lobbed a grenade at the
vehicle of a senior police official near a Shia imambargah or
prayer hall, police said.

The police official escaped unhurt.

Dera Ismail Khan has been rocked by bomb blasts, suicide
attacks and sectarian violence over the past few months.

Meanwhile, police in Punjab province said they had
arrested a terror suspect named Hafiz Shakeel who reportedly
confessed he was involved in stealing vehicles that were used
in suicide attacks in Lahore. Three more suspects were later
arrested on the basis of information provided by Shakeel.

Shakeel, who hails from Rahimyar Khan, was allegedly
involved in stealing two vans, two jeeps and a car for
carrying out suicide bombings. PTI