The local police said that the dead Farhad, Naseemullah, Akhter Ali and Yousaf, had gone to Sardaryab, a famous visiting point known for smalltime eateries mostly serving fish, when the attackers sprayed them with bullets which resulted in their instant death. Another of their friend named Jehanzeb received serious injuries and was stated to be at death's door at the hospital.
The police claimed of arresting one of the attackers named Akhter Zaib along with his vehicle.
The SHO of the concerned Prang cop shoppe, Imran Khan
... aka
Taliban Khan, who isn't your heaviest-duty thinker, maybe not even among the top five...
, told Dawn that the initial investigation revealed that the killed persons had kidnapped a girl from Toru village in Mardan, who was stated to be close relative of Akhter Zaib. The official said that the girls family had been demanding her custody, but her kidnappers demanded Rs600,000 for her release.
The SHO said that one of the dear departed, Farhad, was a gardener at the Charsadda police lines. He added that the bodies were shifted to the district headquarters hospital for conducting their autopsy, after which the FIR would be registered.