Policeman killed, 5 injured by suicide blast in NW Pakistan
'Pakistan Times' NWFP Bureau

PESHAWAR: A police constable was killed and five injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up at check-post in Kot Beli here Tuesday morning, District Police said.

According to reports, the bomber believed to be riding on Auto Rickshaw detonated himself near Kot Barara closed to Bannu Cantonment Check Post, killing Naeem Khan Constable on the spot.

The injured have been identified as Shadman, Arshad, Safdar, Sikandar and Rehan. The injured were shifted to CMH and district headquarters hospitals. The condition of the injured was stated to be stable.

However, the independent sources put the death toll at four in the blast while the District Police said only one constable embraced Shahdat in the blast.

Governor NWFP Owais Ahmed Ghani had to arrive at Bannu from Miran Shah North Waziristan after one hour of the blast.

Meanwhile, Regional Coordination Officer Bannu Attaullah Khan Tuesday briefed Governor NWFP Owais Ahmed Ghani about the law and order situation as well as pace of progress on development projects in Bannu District.

Governor NWFP had arrived Bannu on the last leg of his two-day visit of the North Waziristan Agency.

DIG Police Masood Afridi and other senior officials of the region MPA Ziyad Akram Durrani and District Nazim Azam Khan Durrani attended the briefing.

The Governor took keen interest in the working of the District Government and stressed the need for making continued efforts to ensure peace and normalcy in the society.

In fact, he said the situation is already improving and the credit definitely goes to all those who are making efforts for this purpose.

He also appreciated the courageous role of the district administration especially the law enforcing agencies in this respect.●