Car explosion kills four in Lakki Marwat

Five tribesmen, believed to be IDPs were on board in a vehicle when the explosion occurred, police say

PESHAWAR: A car explosion killed at least four people in Lakki Marwat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Thursday, police said, the latest incident in the tribal belt.

The explosion completely destroyed a car, which was going to South Waziristan from the town of Lakki Marwat.

"All four bodies are beyond recognition and it is difficult to ascertain their identity," district police chief Ali Akbar told AFP.

The police officer added that it was still unclear whether explosives were being carried in the vehicle or if somebody planted a bomb underneath the car.



"However, we are investigating to get to the bottom of the incident," Akbar said.

Senior police official, Shahid Hameed, also confirmed the incident and casualties.

Another official said those killed are believed to be IDPs and were aboard the vehicle when the explosion occurred.

South Waziristan is one of the seven semi-autonomous tribal regions where the military has been battling Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked militants.

Pakistan's insurgency began after the US-led invasion of neighbouring Afghanistan in 2001 which led to a spillover of militants across the border and a surge in recruitment for the extremist groups.



The army launched Operation Zar-e-Azb in 2014 in a bid to wipe out militant bases in the North Waziristan tribal area and bring an end to the near decade-long insurgency that has cost the country thousands of lives.

Thursday's incident comes days after a Taliban suicide bomber targeting Christians over Easter killed more than 70 people including many children in a park crowded with families in Lahore.