Hours after a terror attack in Peshawar’s Christian Colony killed one civilian and four suicide bombers, another terror attack rocked Mardan’s district and sessions court killing at least 12 people and injuring 52 others.
According to news agency Reuters, two bombs exploded outside the court.
"So far we recovered 12 bodies of the lawyers, police personnel and civilians. Besides this, we rescued 52 injured, including lawyers, police personnel and civilians from the spot," Haris Habib, chief rescue officer in the city of Mardan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where the blasts took place, said.
District Police Officer, Mardan said the attacker detonated a hand grenade before exploding his suicide vest near the entrance of the court.
An emergency has been imposed at hospitals in the area, officials informed.
The attack comes barely a day after Director-General (DG) Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Asim Bajwa gave an exhaustive rundown of progress made against militants in the country's northwestern region in Operation Zarb-i-Azb which was launched in June 2014.
Earlier this morning, five people including one civilian and four terrorists were killed after militants attacked Peshawar’s Christian Colony, that lies near the Pak-Afghan border and the Warsak Dam.
The Pakistani Taliban faction Jamaat-ur-Ahrar claimed responsibility for the attack in Peshawar.
Director General Inter-Services Public Relations Asim Bajwa said that ‘all four suicide bombers were killed’ during the gunfight and a clearance operation is underway.
The firing reportedly began around 6 am when the terrorists attacked the colony. In the exchange of fire between gunmen and security forces, one civilian was also killed.
The sound of explosions was heard in the area, eyewitnesses claimed, and a helicopter was spotted conducting aerial surveillance.
