Islamabad: Four policemen were injured in a suicide car bomb attack on the office of the Anti-Terrorism Squad on outskirts of the Pakistani capital today, even as a joint session of the parliament discussed the strategy in the country's war on terror about 20 km away.

A suicide attacker rammed his explosive-laden car into the three-storey office at 1 pm (local time) in the high-security Police Lines, in a second major suicide bombing in the Pakistani capital within a span of a month.

Though initial reports put the death toll at eight, Islamabad police chief Asghar Raza Gardezi, who visited the site of the attack, said only four policemen were injured. He also confirmed a suicide bomber had carried out the attack.

Police officials said casualties were limited by the fact that most ATS personnel had been deployed for security duties related to the special session of parliament.

One side of the ATS building collapsed due the powerful blast, which was heard from several kilometres away and smashed windows of homes in the nearby residential areas.

A thick column of smoke was seen rising from the Police Lines following the blast, which also scorched trees and destroyed about 20 cars and motorcycles.

Policemen cordoned off the area as investigators scoured the site for clues and body parts of the suicide bomber.

The Islamabad Police headquarters and the National Police Academy are located within the Police Lines. The area also houses the International Islamic University, a government hospital and one of the city s largest fruit and vegetable markets.
Source : PTI