18 killed in Pakistan suicide blast (Second Lead)

ISLAMABAD - A powerful car bomb explosion in the family quarters of the police lines in Kohat city in northwestern Pakistan killed at least 18 people, including mostly women and children, and injured over 50, a police spokesman said.

The blast victims include 12 women and four children, police spokesman Fazal Zai said.

Eyewitnesses said an explosives-laden vehicle hit a wall of the police quarters that caused the blast.

Families of police officials were staying in the quarters which have been severely damaged in the explosion.

The police lines area is adjacent to the cantonment on Hangu road. Officials cordoned off the area and started rescue operations.

There was chaos in the area and emergency has been declared in the hospitals. But a shortage of ambulances made it difficult to shift the rescued people from the rubble to hospitals.

Kohat Commissioner Khalid Umarzai confirmed the blast but refused to give any details.

“I can only confirm that 10 people, including nine women and one police official, have been killed in the blast while 56 have been injured,” he said.

“It is the first such incident in eight months in Kohat,” he said.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani condemned the blast and called for an inquiry.

A suicide blast targeting a police station in Lakki Marwat Monday killed 19 people including nine policemen and nine school-going children.

(Awais Saleem can be contacted at ians.pakistan@gmail.com)