Redefine News

A busy commercial area near the Pakistan Army’s headquarters in the garrision city of Rawalpindi was stroked by a suicide bomber on Monday,killing at least 24 people including military personnel

The blast caused considerable damage to the facade of the Shalimar Hotel on Mall Road, less than a kilometre from the Army's fortified General Headquarters that was besieged by a group of terrorists nearly a month ago.

Police officials were quoted by Dawn News channel as saying that a suspected motorcycle-borne suicide bomber blew himself up outside the hotel when policemen tried to intercept him.

Among the dead and injured were the people who came to collect their salaries and pension in a state run bank situated near the Hotel.

Witnesses said that private security guards and army personnel were also among the victims in the explosion that occurred at 10.40 am.

Military police and paramilitary personnel cordoned off the area and diverted traffic from the road in front of the hotel.

Zahid Dara, who witnessed the blast, told reporters: "I fell off my motorcycle when the blast occurred. People began running helter-skelter in panic. I saw the blast had occurred outside the hotel, near which there are several banks, travel agencies and other offices".