It was the latest in a string of attacks as the country prepares to hold historic elections on May 11. The vote will mark the first democratic transition of power in Pakistan, which has been governed by four military rulers.
A security official said Abdul Majeed Marwat, commander of the paramilitary Frontier Constabulary for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, survived the attack and was taken to a military hospital with "only scratches".
Around 28 other people were wounded in the blast, medics said.
"It was a suicide attack, the target was the FC commander," police official Arshad Khan told AFP.
Witnesses said the bomber was on foot and struck when the convoy of the police chief stopped at a military checkpost in the Saddar area (busy cantonment area) of Peshawar.
The checkpost is about 300 metres from the heavily guarded American consulate, which has itself been the target of attacks in the past, an AFP reporter said.
"We have received six dead bodies, including two women," Sayed Jameel Shah, a spokesman for Peshawar's main Lady Reading Hospital, told AFP.
He later confirmed that two of the injured died in hospital.
"They were in serious condition in the neurosurgery ward," he said.
Another four bodies and 17 other wounded were taken to the Combined Military Hospital, a senior security official told AFP.
Among the dead were two soldiers and one member of the FC, while the wounded were a mixture of civilians and military personnel, officials said.
The blast damaged two motorcycles and four cars, including Marwat's vehicle. Splashes of blood lay on the ground and an AFP reporter saw a pair of legs, presumed to be that of the bomber.
Umar Din, 21, a rickshaw driver, said the force of the explosion flipped his rickshaw onto the ground.
"I came out and saw my passenger bleeding," he told AFP. "I picked up the passenger on my shoulder and ran to a safer place, it was horrible, people were bleeding and crying," he added.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility but Pakistani police, soldiers and paramilitary units are frequently targeted by domestic Taliban, who have been fighting an insurgency since July 2007.
There are fears that rampant insecurity could prove a major challenge for the elections, not least in Peshawar, a key electoral battleground and home to 2.5 million on the edge of the tribal belt, a Taliban and al Qaeda stronghold.
The relatively nearby Tirah Valley has offered Pakistan's umbrella Tehreek-e-Taliban a new base in the tribal district of Khyber, beyond the reach of ground troops and posing a heightened threat to Peshawar.
On Tuesday a girls' school teacher was shot dead in Khyber and last Saturday a suicide attack killed 17 soldiers in North Waziristan, the most notorious of the seven districts that make up the semi-autonomous tribal belt.
On March 21, a car bomb killed 17 people at Jalozai, the country's largest refugee camp, as scores of people queued for rations, just outside Peshawar.
Pakistan says more than 35,000 people have been killed as a result of terrorism in the country since the 9/11 attacks on the United States.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack.
"We claim responsibility for the attack which was carried out against those who guard a secular system and carry out operations in the tribal areas" said TTP spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan.
COMMENTS (17)
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"RAW has targeted Pakistan. It has well know that RAW is responsible for these atrocities." @Jawad: Thanks for enlighting me, because i never knew RAW was so powerful to attack Pakistan deep inside at will...why did you misse other RAW attacks on Pakistan such as last year massacre of your 124 army men in Siachin by sending avalanche, then sending floods in Pakistan in 2010, 2011, 2012 and in advance 2013, then earth quakes, Polio, head aches and many more pain to Pakistani citizens...Oh I see RAW is very powerful...:-)
@Dhaka: "Pakistan have a worse security service professionals compared to our country."
Your country is really trying to keep the terrorists and fundamentalists away. It's not an easy task as you can see what is going on right now. But please don't give up because of these perturbations. And, don't compromise which is what Pakistan, unfortunately, has done and is now paying the price.
It’s clear that the terrorists are on a mission to destabilize the region with their acts of terror. Unfortunately, the great nation of Pakistan has become the prime target, and sadly it’s become a norm to see these suicide blasts take place on a daily basis. To make matters worse, these terrorists are regularly targeting the authorities. They carry the intent of sending the whole nation into chaos and frenzy. These terrorists are well aware of Pakistan’s importance in stabilizing the region, and that’s why they are fully focused on turning Pakistan into an unstable country. The U.S. also realizes the importance of Pakistan in stabilizing the region and winning the WOT. That’s why you see our governments working hard to build on our improving relationship. We face a common threat in the form of terrorism, and we are confident of eliminating that threat through shared commitment and teamwork.
Our deepest and most heartfelt condolences go to the families and friends of those killed in this deplorable act of terror. We hope justice will be served, and the ones responsible will be caught and punished to the fullest extent of law.
Ali Khan
RAW has targeted Pakistan. It has well know that RAW is responsible for these atrocities.
A car bomb explosion in Saddar Area Peshawar on 21 December, 2003, causing death of 37 innocent people and injuring over 50 others. An explosion at Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital Lahore on 14 April 2005 claiming the lives of 45 persons and injuring some 34 others. A bomb blast near Bhaipheru in a passenger bus, traveling from Lahore to Sahiwal on 28 April 2005, killing 44 people on the spot and wounding another 50. A bomb explosion in a bus near Sheikhupura on 8 May, 2009, killing 27 people and injuring 29. A bomb explosion near Alam Chowk, Gujranwala, causing a significant number of casualties on June 10, 2009. A bomb explosion in a passenger bus near Kharian on 10 June, 2007. A bomb explosion outside Madrassah Faiz-ul-Islam Rawalpindi on 10 June, 2002. A bomb blast at Faisalabad railway station on 8 July, 2001. A bomb blast in Rawalpindi. A bomb blast in Lahore. A bomb blast at Sabzi Mandi of Islamabad on 19 September, 2003, killing 87 people and injuring nearly 129 others etc.
Army should immediatelt withdraw from civilian areas so that human rights violations can stop.
@exarmy As a pashtoon your analysis of the situation is wrong. Only.when army is out of pashtoon areas will there be peace. Army should stop building checkposts everywhere and detaining people without trial in KP.
These attacks amount to decleration of war against the pak army. We need to tread carefully as the enemy is trying to get us to do mistakes. Airial bombardment is more effective in these areas.
@wala Because they are firmly taking some strict but right decisions. just to prevent it to become a next Pakistan. After some time you will see Progress of Bangladesh.
Gulam Rasool"Kuldeep sharma" New Delhi
TO ALL MY FELLOWS: you can simply say that US-INDIA-ISRAEL nexus behind this OR can Realize the truth that these Homegrown bloodsuckers have no respect to Human Life. we have got much more than 1000 wounds so please Stop them by Willpower, Otherwise it will too late for Pakistan itself. Hoping that there are some people left in Pakistan, which can understand my feelings.
Gulam Rasool"Kuldeep sharma" New Delhi
Frontier Corps and Frontier Constabulary are TWO different types of forces. Frontier corps operates in FATA, troops are recruited from local tribes while officers are seconded from Pak Army.
While Frontier Constabulary operates in settled areas and its officers are posted from Police Force.
While reporting such incidents, it is requested that names should not be confused.
Unfortunately, above incident happened with Frontier Constabulary, so it should be mentioned as such instead of referring abbreviation of FC, which stands for both Frontier Constabulary andFrontier Corps)
@Dhaka: first look at your country. its now as violent...
Can some one check the records and find out a day when no bomb blasted in Pakistan. That day mat be celebrated as peace day
All over the world whenever some Blast or any Security lapse occur then the first step by any Law enforcement agencies is to secure the Concerned Area and then cordon off the entire area and the crime scene analysis is carried out but unfortunately In Pakistan Crime Scenes are never taken care off and most of the evidence is lost because of the stupidity of Our law Enforcement agencies and anyone and any media personal personal can ruin the entire evidence that could be vital for arrests.
@Tufan Agha: I totally agree with you. We know who are doing all this and we are still silent.
Pakistan have a worse security service professionals compared to our country.
Shame on all the supporters of terrorists, including Lawyers who plead their cases, Judges who acquits them, Molvies and spineless leaders.
This terrorism will not going to stop until government start giving capital punishment to the terrorist openly in the public .Western judicial system is proving out to be an epic failure slowly .We need to implement Islam here which is 'khoon k badle khoon".