Lakki Marwat: The death toll from a powerful explosion that ripped through a crowded marketplace in northwestern Pakistan has climbed to nine, while at least 30 others remain injured, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
The blast occurred in Sarai Naurang town of Lakki Marwat district, a region located near the Afghan border. According to police officials, the explosion was triggered by an explosives-packed rickshaw that detonated in the middle of a busy commercial area, causing panic and destruction.
Among those killed were two traffic police personnel and a woman, while several others sustained critical injuries. Rescue teams rushed to the scene and shifted the wounded to nearby hospitals, with severely injured victims referred to medical facilities in Bannu for advanced treatment.
Hospital authorities said dozens of injured people had been admitted, with some battling for their lives. Emergency responders continued search and relief efforts for several hours after the explosion.
No organisation has so far claimed responsibility for the attack. However, the incident has heightened security concerns in the region, coming shortly after a deadly assault on a police checkpost in Bannu district that left 21 officers dead.
Pakistani authorities had blamed the attack on Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, also known as the Pakistan Taliban, alleging cross-border planning and support.
The accusation was strongly rejected by the Afghan Taliban administration. Spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid dismissed Islamabad’s claims, calling them baseless and denying any Afghan involvement in attacks inside Pakistan.
The latest bombing has once again highlighted growing instability in Pakistan’s northwestern belt, where militant violence has surged in recent months despite repeated security operations by the government.
Investigators are now examining forensic evidence from the blast site and reviewing intelligence inputs to identify those behind the deadly attack.
