PESHAWAR, Aug 9: A house and a private clinic were damaged when a powerful improvised explosive device went off at Scheme Chowk in the limits of Badhber police station here on Thursday.

Police said that the bomb was planted near the residence of Ghulab Sher that destroyed a wall of his house and a portion of a private clinic. The family members of Mr Sher remained unhurt in the blast.

They said that a charity organisation was also functioning in the building where the bomb was planted. However, it was learnt that owner of the building had close association with the leaders of Bazidkhel Qaumi Lashkar and he might have been targeted by militants.

Police said that the owner of the building had so far nominated no one in the case.

A police official said that about five kilograms of explosive material was packed in a pressure cooker that was planted near the building. It was a time device, he added.

Also, anther bomb planted at a motorbike that was parked in the middle of Matani Bazaar was defused by police.

“We timely informed the Bomb Disposal Unit officials, who defused the bomb,” an official of Matani police station said.

He said that a search operation was launched in the area to arrest the people involved in the sabotage bid.