Provincial minister escapes bomb attack near Peshawar

A bomb went off a short distance from the home of a provincial minister in a suburb of Peshawar in northwest Pakistan today, injuring at least four persons, including his nephew.

The blast occurred near the residence of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa agriculture minister Arbab Ayub Jan, who belongs to the ruling Awami National Party, officials said.

The minister, who was at home at the time of the attack, escaped unhurt.

The blast hit a car that was leaving the home of the minister. Jan's nephew, who was in the car, was among the injured.

Initial reports had said some policemen at a check post outside the minister's residence were among the injured.

The explosive device, which was planted by the roadside, was triggered by remote control.

Police officers said 2.5 kg of explosives was used in the attack.

No group claimed responsibility for the attack.

Scores of ANP leaders and workers have been killed in attacks by the banned Pakistani Taliban over the past few years.

The attack came six days after US special forces gunned down al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in the garrison city of Abbottabad, also in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.

Jan told the media that he was the intended target of the attack.

The war on terrorism would continue despite such attacks, he said.