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Blast strikes Pakistan bus depot | Blast strikes Pakistan bus depot |
(about 2 hours later) | |
An explosion has struck a bus depot on the outskirts of the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi, killing at least eight people, police say. | |
At least another 17 people were injured in the attack at the Pirwadhai depot, city police officials said. | |
Rawalpindi police chief Nasir Khan Durrani told the BBC the blast appeared to be a suicide car bomb attack. | |
It comes on the day a major opposition rally was called off after the sacked chief justice was reinstated. | It comes on the day a major opposition rally was called off after the sacked chief justice was reinstated. |
Interior ministry chief Rehman Malik said the bomber was probably deployed to attack the opposition rally, AFP news agency reported. | |
"We had prior information that there could be an attack during the 'long march' in Rawalpindi and Islamabad," he was quoted as saying. | |
"The people who did this are trying to destabilise Pakistan." | |
Militants opposed to Pakistan's support for US-led operations in Afghanistan have been held responsible for a string of bomb blasts across the country. | Militants opposed to Pakistan's support for US-led operations in Afghanistan have been held responsible for a string of bomb blasts across the country. |
There were attacks on Sunday and Monday in Peshawar in north-west Pakistan on container terminals supplying Western forces. | There were attacks on Sunday and Monday in Peshawar in north-west Pakistan on container terminals supplying Western forces. |
Cars destroyed | Cars destroyed |
Correspondents say the Rawalpindi depot, which serves the garrison city and the nearby capital of Islamabad, is close to a large market and the area is busy throughout the day. | |
Emergency services are at the scene and ambulances have been ferrying the injured to hospital. | Emergency services are at the scene and ambulances have been ferrying the injured to hospital. |
A number of cars and roadside stalls have been destroyed in the explosion. | A number of cars and roadside stalls have been destroyed in the explosion. |
The blast comes as lawyers and opposition supporters across the country have been celebrating the government's decision to reinstate chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry. | The blast comes as lawyers and opposition supporters across the country have been celebrating the government's decision to reinstate chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry. |
The protesters had been planning a major demonstration in Islamabad but called off the action. | The protesters had been planning a major demonstration in Islamabad but called off the action. |