Islamabad: More than 20 people were killed and several injured in a bomb blast in Peshawar as Pakistan's parliamentarians voted to elect the country's 13th president.

Police and witnesses said a van containing explosives hit a security check-post in Peshawar before ramming into a nearby building and exploding, killing more than 20 people, including six security personnel.

An interior ministry official confirmed that six security officials were killed while 11 others died on the spot. However, hospital sources said they had received 20 dead bodies and more than 50 injured people. They said some of the injured were in critical condition.

Rescue workers said around 30 people are still trapped in the building that was hit by the explosive laden double cabin Toyota.

The blast took place when parliamentarians were voting in the presidential elections to elect the 13th head of the state after last month's resignation of dictator Pervez Musharraf.

"We are concerned about the law and order situation and increasing terrorism," Information Minister Sherry Rehman told reporters in Islamabad after casting her vote in the Parliament House.

 

Source : IANS