KOHAT, Jan 9: Awami National Party MPA Syed Qalb-i-Hassan escaped an attempt on his life during official visit to a school here on Thursday morning.

Talking to Dawn, the MPA said as soon as he entered the Government High School No.2, located in the heart of the city, some miscreants lobbed an explosive device from outside the school which went off with a big bang.

The high police officials rushed to the scene and after cordoning off the whole area, escorted him to a safe place.

He said the police later informed him that some people tried to create fear in the area and used a large number of crackers during his visit.

The MPA, however, claimed that it was a bomb and not the crackers because it made a very big noise as if a gas cylinder had exploded.

Expressing his apprehension about the security arrangements in the area, he feared that “I was the target of the attack in which I luckily escaped unhurt but still feel vulnerable to more serious accident as I belong to a particular sect and the area had witnessed clashes between rival groups in the past.”

The police immediately arrested a dozen people in connection with the incident which occurred at 11am and beefed up security in the city.

The SSP was busy in investigating the case and, therefore, could not be contacted till evening.