The death toll of the powerful suicide blast in a densely populated eastern city of Rawalpindi on Friday rose to eight while several others injured, said officials.
A police official Irfan Niazi told KUNA that the blast took place outside an Imambargah (worship place of Shia sect) in Chatian Hatian area of Rawalpindi.
Another local police official, Kamran Zahid confirming the death toll told KUNA that the blast appeared to be a suicidal attack. He further said that at least 17 injured people including two policemen were shifted to the nearby DHQ hospital. The bomber tried to enter the Imambargah and blew himself up when he was stopped by the security, he added.
Security forces cordoned off the area and a probe into the incident was underway. The injured were immediately shifted to the nearby DHQ hospital where an emergency was imposed. Some of the injured were reported critical and death toll is feared to rise.
Allama Nasir Abbas, leader of the religious political party Majis Wahdatul Maslimeen (MWM) representing Shia sect, strongly condemned the suicide attack demanding a fair probe into the incident.