Pakistan: 40 killed in suicide attack

Islamabad, Oct 11: Around 40 people were killed and 90 injured when an explosives-laden vehicle was driven into an anti-Taliban jirga by a suicide bomber, in the Orakzai Agency.

The attack occurred in the Khadezai area of Upper Orakzai Agency where a jirga of the 'Ali Khel' tribe was in progress, the Daily Times quoted witnesses and tribal elders as saying. One of the witnesses said that at least 32 people died instantly, while more than 90 were injured in the attack. The impact of the blast was such that it left an eight-foot deep crater in the ground.

A local tribesman Taj Mohammad, who was injured in the blast, said a double cabin pickup 'hit the participants of the jirga', held after Friday prayers. He said the jirga had earlier destroyed two Taliban hideouts and fined four Taliban Rs two lakh each.

According to the paper, the tribesmen, backed by authorities, were trying to raise tribal militias in Orakzai to drive out Taliban and Al Qaeda from the area, when the bomber struck. "We were busy in raising a lashkar to evict Taliban from the region when this attack took place," one of the jirga members reportedly said.

ANI