Three killed, seven injured in bomb blast in Multan

Multan, Mar 2 (UNI) Three people were killed and seven others including a Special Court Judge, injured in a bomb explosion in Multan city today.

The bomb was attached to a bicycle, which exploded near the district court compound, killing two bodyguards and driver of Judge Bashir Ahmed Bhatti and injuring seven others including the judge himself, Pakistan's private Geo TV quoted Additional Inspector General Police Mirza Muhammad Ali as saying.

Police and bomb disposal squad reached the scene soon after the blast and cordoned off the area.

Mr Bhattai had heard a sectarian terrorism case and was due to deliver the verdict, Mr Mirza Muhammad Ali said.

Reuters report adds: ''We received dead bodies of two policemen while a third one expired at the hospital,'' said Gul Nawaz, chief medical official at the Nishter Hospital.

Six policemen and two passers-by were also wounded by the remote-controlled device that appeared to target the judge's car, Additional Inspector General Police Mirza Mohammad Ali said.

''The bomb was planted on a bicycle and went off as the car of the special judge, Bashir Ahmed Bhatti, passed by,'' he told Reuters.

''Judging by the impact of the blast, it appears to be very heavy explosive,'' Mr Ali said. ''I would call today's attack religious terrorism.'' UNI XC AD KP1548