Blast eastern Pakistani city kills 3, wounds 14

A powerful blast in eastern Pakistani city Rawalpindi killed at least three people including two policemen on Tuesday night, said police. According to police, three people including were killed and 14 others were wounded in a suicide bomb attack outside an Imam Bargah (worship place of Shia sect) in Gracy Lane area of Rawalpindi, near airport. Tariq Chaudhry, a police official, told KUNA that a motorcycle rider blew himself up when he was signaled to stop by the police personnel present at the site of the incident. The blast also damaged several vehicles parked at and around the blast site, said police officials. The security forces cordoned off the area immediately and conducted a search operation for security clearance. The bodies and wounded people were shifted to the nearby Benazir Shaheed Hospital. Asif Qadir, an official in the hospital, confirmed that "we have three bodies and 14 wounded people at our hospital." Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister of Punjab province, Shahbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack and ordered the concerned authorities to ensure provision of best medical facilities to the injured. The religious parties representing Shia sect including Majlis-i-Wahadat-Muslameen (MWM) also condemned the attack. The security for Rawalpindi city and bordering capital city Islamabad has been beefed up after the deadly attack.