DERA GHAZI KHAN: At least seven people were killed and several injured in a blast on Wednesday at the political office of Sardar Amjad Farooq Khosa, a Member of National Assembly belonging to the ruling PML-N, in Taunsa Sharif tehsil of Punjab's Dera Ghazi Khan district, police said.
District Police Officer (DPO) DG Khan Ghulam Mubashir Maiken had earlier said five people were killed in the blast and added that rescue personnel had rushed to the blast site and shifted the victims to District Headquarters Hospital DG Khan.
The condition of four wounded was reported as critical, according to hospital sources. The nature and intensity of the explosion was not known.
A large contingent of police and security personnel, including the Bomb Disposal Squad, reached the site.
Eye-witnesses said two motorycycle-riding attackers drove into the residence of the PML-N leader following which the blast took place. The witnesses added that a local Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) leader was among those killed in the blast.
The political office of the legislator caught fire as a result of the explosion and a huge plume of smoke was visible in the air, according to eye-witnesses.
The blast, which took place days ahead of Muharram, could be heard across two kilometres. The government has formulated a strict security plan and beefed up security arrangements for the Holy month of Muharram.
According to DawnNews, the veteran politician was in Islamabad at the time of the attack while around 40 people were present at his political office. People usually gather at the office to address their grievances.
Sardar Amjad Farooq is the cousin of estranged PML-N leader Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa and was elected from the DG Khan's NA-171 constituency.
Punjab Governor Rafiq Rajwana, Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif and MNA Sardar Amjad Khosa condemned the attack in DG Khan and expressed deep sorrow and grief over the loss of lives in the blast.
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The incident comes two months after another PML-N lawmaker, Punjab home minister Colonel (retd) Shuja Khanzada was killed in a suicide attack on his political office in Attock's Shadi Khan village.
