At least 10 people were killed and several others injured, including deputy chairman of the Senate Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, in a powerful blast today in Pakistan's south-western Balochistan province.
The bombing targeted Haideri when he came out of a religious seminary after addressing a gathering in Mastung area of the province shortly after the weekly Friday prayers.
The area where the explosion took place is approximately 70 kilometres from provincial capital Quetta.
Police said that 10 people were killed in the blast which was apparently a suicide attack.
Senior police officer Abdul Razzaq Cheema said that 30-40 people were injured. He said Haideri was slightly injured.
Citing sources, Geo TV said Haideri has been shifted to the Civil hospital.
Haideri later told Dunya TV in a brief chat that he received minor injuries.
TV footage showed Haideri's vehicle was badly damaged. He was sitting in the car at the time of blast. His driver was killed in the attack.
Haideri belongs to Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazal (JUI-F) of Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
So far no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)