Suicide blast in govt office in Pakistan, 22 dead, 40 injured

A suicide bomber attacked a government office in Pakistan on Tuesday, killing at least 22 people and wounding more than 30, officials said. The attacker targeted a branch of the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra), which issues government ID cards, in the northwestern town of Mardan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, police officer Naeem Khan told Reuters. "A suicide bomber riding an explosives-laden motorcycle hit the Nadra office in Mardan where a large number of people were standing in queues," he said.

At least 16 bodies and 34 wounded were brought to Bach Khan Medical Complex, medical superintendent Dr Zulfiqar Durrani said by telephone. A Nadra employee, Mohammad Tariq, was inside when he heard the huge blast outside the office premises. "We are still inside the office, and the police and rescue workers are busy in their work," he said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility but Pakistani Taliban militants, fighting to bring down the state, have been responsible for numerous similar attacks over recent years.