According to Dir police, militants launched the attack at around 11pm on Friday night. Law-enforcement personnel mounted a strong response, forcing the attackers to retreat and preventing them from advancing towards the deputy commissioner’s residence.
An exchange of fire continued intermittently until Fajr prayers, police and residents said. No casualties were reported among security personnel.
Residents said militants eventually fled the area following the retaliatory action.
The attack came a day after members of a local lashkar, who had gathered in Dir Khas from different areas to demonstrate their opposition to militant activity, returned to their homes.
Sources said the timing of the attack appeared to be an attempt by militants to demonstrate their presence in the area after the lashkar members had dispersed.
Separately, a 15-year-old girl was killed and seven others injured when three vehicles collided in the Rani area of Lower Dir on Saturday, Rescue 1122 officials said.
Emergency teams reached the site after receiving information about the accident and provided first aid to the injured before shifting them to a nearby hospital. Local residents also helped transport the wounded.
The deceased was identified as the daughter of Abdul Rahman.
The injured included seven-year-old Amjad, 13-year-old Sudais, 27-year-old Amanullah, 12-year-old Ihsan, 55-year-old Zarnosh, 18-year-old Hazrat Ali and 37-year-old Abdul Rahman.
Rescue officials later removed the damaged vehicles and cleared the road for traffic. Local residents attributed the accident to overspeeding.
In another incident, a nine-year-old girl was killed when the roof of a house collapsed following heavy rains in the Barkhani area of Maidan, Lower Dir.
The girl, identified as the daughter of Fazal Wahid, was inside the house when the roof collapsed. Other family members were away at the time.
A Rescue 1122 team reached the site and recovered the girl’s body from the debris.
