NOWSHERA: (Anwarzeb Khan) Police in Nowshera said Saturday they arrested two alleged inter-provincial car lifters and robbery suspects after a shootout during a routine patrol in the Pabbi area.

According to officials, Station House Officer Ashfaq Ahmed and his team from Pabbi police station were patrolling College Road when they signaled a motorcyclist to stop on suspicion. Police said the suspects instead opened fire in an attempt to flee, prompting officers to return fire in self-defense.

Additional police reinforcements led by the SDPO of Pabbi Circle reached the scene shortly after. The two suspects were arrested in injured condition, and weapons allegedly used in the exchange were seized. The injured men were shifted to a hospital for treatment.

Police identified the suspects as residents of Jahangira in Swabi district and said they were involved in organized car lifting, robbery and attempted murder cases across multiple districts.

Authorities said the suspects were wanted in several cases in Rawalpindi and Attock in Punjab province, as well as in Mardan and Nowshera in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A case has been registered and further investigation is underway.