KARACHI, Jan 20: Four people suffered injuries when an explosives-ridden motorcycle exploded at Khyber Chowk in Ittehad Town on Sunday.

Police said the motorcycle parked near a private hospital went off when a car (ASE-386) being driven by a local contractor and leader of the Awami National Party, Mohammad Din Afridi, drove past it.

The IED was detonated through a remotely controlled device. The blast injured a security guard and a nephew of Mr Afridi and two other people who were rushed to a nearby hospital, said police.

Mr Afridi escaped unhurt in the blast which damaged his car, a taxi and an ambulance parked near the hospital.

An official of the Bomb Disposal Unit said that around four kilos of explosives laced with ball bearings were used in the IED.

Police said that Mr Afridi had been receiving threats from some extortionists who identified themselves as Taliban and he had contacted police and Rangers in this regard. Police suspected the attack was directed at him.

Meanwhile, a handout issued by ANP condemned the attack and said Mr Afridi was a local leader of ANP. Senator Shahi Syed called upon the Sindh IG and DG Rangers to immediately arrest the culprits behind the blast.