At least two Frontier Corps (FC) personnel, an officer and his gunman, were martyred in a suicide blast in Peshawar's Hayatabad area on Monday morning, a senior police official said.
SSP (operations) Sajjad Khan told DawnNews that two security personnel, Major Jamal Sheran and his gunman Zahir Shah, were martyred in the explosion.
SSP Khan said 10-12 kilogrammes of explosives were used by the bomber, who was reportedly riding a Honda CG125 bike.
However, in a statement issued later in the day, the Inter-Services Public Relations said, "A motorcycle-borne suicide bomber hit an FC vehicle on routine patrolling duty in Hayatabad, Peshawar, in which Maj Jamal Sheran embraced shahadat while four soldiers were injured."
SP Cantonment Peshawar Imran Malik said that nine people, including two security personnel, were also injured in the explosion, which occurred near the Bagh-e-Naran Chowk in Hayatabad.
According to the SP, the suicide attacker riding a motorcycle targeted the FC convoy when it was travelling from its camp in Hayatabad to the headquarters in Qila Bala Hisar. The vehicle was moving when the blast occurred, he said.
The outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement sent to media outlets by its spokesman.
Two vehicles that were part of the convoy were damaged in the blast. Security personnel cordoned off the area after the explosion as rescue services shifted the injured to Hayatabad Medical Complex.
Chaman blast
At least one FC personnel was also martyred in a suspected suicide blast in Balochistan's Chaman area near the Pak-Afghan border on Monday.
The suicide blast targeted the Talab Checkpost, security officials said.
The attacks come a day after Pakistan Army announced a fresh operation in Khyber Agency’s Rajgal Valley to "forestall entry" of the militant Islamic State (IS) group from across the border.
Military spokesman Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor said on Sunday that law enforcement personnel and 'soft targets' have become the new targets for militants.
— With additional input by Hasan Farhan in Peshawar.
Correction: An earlier version of this report said three Frontier Constabulary men had been martyred in Peshawar. The error is regretted.
