Blast outside MNA Amjad Khosa’s office takes seven lives leaving 13 injured

A large explosion ripped through a “Dera” belonging to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MNA Amjad Farooq Khosa at Taunsa Sharif in Dera Ghazi Khan district on Wednesday, killing at least seven people and injuring eight others, Arshad Khan, SHO, Taunsa Police Station said. The blast, which took place days ahead of Muharram, could be heard across two kilometres.

Khosa was not present in the office when the attack took place.

Eyewitnesses said two attackers drove into the PML-N leader s office and detonated their explosives.

Meanwhile, Sardar Khosa spoke to Samaa and condemned the blast as ‘cowardly attack’.

Police and rescue teams arrived at the scene and shifted the dead and injured to tehsil headquarters hospital where doctors from city’s private clinics were also called for emergency duties.

The office caught fire as a result and a huge plume of smoke was visible in the air, according to them.

In recent past authorities have cracked down hard on the myriad insurgent groups that have plagued the country for a decade.

According to Ghulam Mubashir Maken, the District Police Officer (DPO) in DG Khan, at least seven people were killed and between 15 and 20 people were injured in the blast. “The entered the gathering and blew himself up among the attendees”, DPO said.

Police have recovered hand grenade, ball bearings, and parts of the body of suicide bomber and suicide jacket.

It may be noted here that two months ago Punjab home minister Colonel (retd) Shuja Khanzada was killed in a suicide attack on his political office in Attock.