Three killed in Pak car bomb attack

At least three persons were killed and 11 others injured on Tuesday, when a car bomb went off outside the house of a government official, who played a key role in raising a tribal militia against the local Taliban, in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar.

Witnesses said the car bomb exploded near the 'hujra' or guest room of the official, Muhammad Fahimullah, in Bazidkhel residential area on the outskirts of Peshawar, the capital of North West Frontier Province (NWFP).

City police chief Sifwat Ghayur said three persons were killed in the attack. Other officials said 11 people were injured.

Witnesses said the dead included two security guards. A shopkeeper was the third person killed in the powerful blast.

No group claimed responsibility for the attack.

Fahimullah had played a key role in raising a 'lashkar' or tribal militia to oppose the activities of the local Taliban on the outskirts of Peshawar.

Local officials said militants were killed in a gun battle with police in Bazidkhel last week and the Taliban might have carried out the car bomb attack in retaliation for that incident.