PESHAWAR, 19 JAN, (DNA) – At least twelve people were killed and 25 others injured in a bomb blast near a security Kharkhano check-post of Khasadar Force in Khyber Agency on Tuesday.

According to rescue sources, the incident took place at 10:20 a.m. when the blast hit the Levies check post in the Karkhano Market area located at the border of Peshawar district and Jamrud town of the country’s restive northwestern Khyber Agency.

Most of the killed were security personnel including an officer, however several civilians including a child were also among the killed.

Security forces, police and rescue teams rushed to the site and shifted the bodies and injured to the Hayatabad Medical Complex hospital.

The sound of the blast was extremely loud and could be heard till faraway places.

Most of the people were involved in buying and selling of items. A large number of security forces were also deployed in the area. Karkhano check-post lies on the Peshawar-Khyber Agency border, hence it is usually a crowded place.

President of the Bara Press Club, Mehboob Shah Afridi, who was working for a local Urdu TV channel, was also killed in the blast.

A security officer revealed the blast occurred after a person parked a motorcycle near the checkpost. The Bomb Disposal Unit also confirmed 10-14 kilograms explosive material was used in the blast. It was also reported that multiple cars caught fire due to the blast.

According to hospital sources, death toll may further rise as at least seven injured were in critical condition.

Police and security forces have cordoned off the area and launched a search operation in the nearby areas.

Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Fazlullah group claimed responsibility for the attack.

President Mamnoon Hussain, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan and former President Asif Ali Zardari have strongly condemned the Peshawar bomb blast in Khyber Agency.

They have expressed sorrow over loss of precious lives in the attack.

They paid tributes to valiant forces for fighting militants who are savage and barbarians and want to impose their distorted ideology by force on the people of Pakistan. They said the people of Pakistan will never succumb before these militants and fight them to the finish.

They Prayed to Almighty Allah for grant of eternal peace to the departed souls and courage and strength to members of bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss with equanimity.  =DNA