20 killed, 53 injured in suicide blast in Pakistan

Peshawar, Oct 6 : Twenty people were killed and 53 others were injured in a suicide blast that ripped through the dera of MNA Rasheed Akbar Khan Nawani in Bhakkar District of Pakistan's Punjab province on Monday.

The Interior Ministry has confirmed the deaths of 20 people but put the number of injured at 35, The News reported.

The MNA was among the injured. Some of the wounded are in serious condition, DSP Bhakkar Khadim Hussain said.

He said people were exchanging Eid greetings with the MNA at the time of the blast.

"It will be premature to say who is responsible for the attack," the DSP said adding, evidence is being collected from the blast site, which was cordoned off by the police.

The head of the suicide bomber has been found.

A suicide jacket was also found from the site of the blast while an Afghan currency note was found on the suicide attacker, a Geo News correspondent reported.

The injured were brought to District Headquarter Hospital Bhakkar.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister, Yousuf Raza Gilani Monday condemned the suicide attack in strongest terms.

No one has so far claimed responsibility of the attack, DSP Bhakkar Khadim Hussain said.

ANI