The market is owned by Shahabuddin Khan, a former Awami National Party (ANP) MNA and currently a leader of Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N), said a local in Salarzai. He is considered to be pro-government.
According to a political administration official, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was planted in a vehicle which killed nine people and injured 23.
An eyewitness Ajmal Khan told the media that the bomb was fitted in a double cabin pick-up parked in the area.
The dead have been identified as Gulfaraz, Nizamuddin, Asfandiar, Taleem Khan, Waheedullah, Hina and Reshma.
The blast also destroyed two vehicles and four shops.
Administration officials and security forces rushed to the site and cordoned off the area after the blast.
An official at the Agency Headquarters Hospital in Khar told The Express Tribune that among those killed were two children, and that 22 injured had also been brought to the hospital.
Three of the injured were reported to be in critical condition and were shifted to Peshawar for further treatment.
The official said that there was a possibility that the number of casualties might rise. “They are all civilians and there is no security officer there.”
No group has claimed responsibility for the blast.
The Salarzai are a pro-government tribe and have been on the hit list of militants for a long time.
COMMENTS (12)
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And Pakistan is preaching Burma to protect Muslims !
@ Enlightened Indians are the best spies in the world. They never get caught doing such things
This is so sad but no religious party will condemn this as they think this lawful in response to NATO and US Drone attacks. Shame on us, what a criteria for justifying things. May God have mercy on our homeland. Amen
@Faysal: They were not Muslims but Indians sent by RAW to destabalise Pakistan.
Very very unfortunate.
9 dead .. 23 injured. Please update
This month is supposed to be the month of peace, what kind of muslims kill other muslims in this month? only anarchists and they are the worst sinners in Islam.
i think this is the TTP taking revenge from Burma
happy ramadan
@Yaida M: Because this is land of pure
@Yaida M: Yaida@ Because this is land of pure.
The festive season always brings out violence in Pakistan. Don't know why.