Two blasts in Pakistan, policeman among 3 killed (Third Lead)

PESHAWAR - Two people were killed Friday in a powerful bomb blast in a shrine for a minority community in northwest Pakistan, while another explosion ripped through a police van leaving a policeman dead in Peshawar, media reports said.

Six people were injured in the blast that took place at a place of worship for the minority Ahmadi community in Canal road area in Mardan of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, Xinhua reported citing police officials.

Earlier in the day, a powerful explosion near a police van in Peshawar left one policeman dead and three injured.

The police mobile van that was on the Ring Road in Achini Bala area on the outskirts of Peshawar was heavily damaged in the remote-controlled explosion, Dawn reported.

The wounded policemen have been rushed to a nearby hospital, sources said.

On Wednesday, three blasts in quick succession in Lahore killed at least 35 people and wounded over 200.

The first blast occurred near Karbala Gamay Shah in Lahore’s Lower Mall area while the second and third blasts were near Bhatti Chowk, just a few paces away.

Terror group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi claimed responsibility for the blasts. The group was founded in 1996 in Jhang city of Punjab province.