NADRA suicide blast leaves 23 people dead in N. Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Dec 29 (KUNA) -- A suicide blast targeting the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) office in Pakistan's northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Tuesday left at least 23 people dead and around 45 others wounded, said officials.
The suicide bomber, riding a motorbike, blew himself up outside the main gate of the NADRA office in Dohsera Chowk in Mardan city.
A security guard posted at the office stopped the bomber at the gate, after which he detonated his explosive vest, a senior police official, DIG Mardan Division Saeed Wazir said in a statement.
The suicide attacker was on a motorbike and rammed it into the gate after being denied entry, he explained.
According to bomb disposal officials, around 8 to 10 kilograms of explosive material was used in the blast which took place at a time when the office was crowded for registration applications for National Identity Cards.
Security forces cordoned the area off and a probe in the incident went underway. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals. A state of emergency has been imposed in all hospitals of the district.
According to local media reports, a banned militant outfit Jamatul Ahrar has claimed responsibility for the attack. The suicide attack came at a time when Pakistan military is undergoing a comprehensive operation 'Zarb e Azb' against foreign and local militants in the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan. (Pick up previous) sbk.msa