Friday Special on Monday
PESHAWAR: At least 17 people were killed in an explosion in the premises of a local court in Charsadda's Shabqadar area on Monday, hospital sources said.The Jamatul Ahrar, a splinter group of the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility for the attack in an email sent to journalists, saying the attack was carried out to avenge the hanging of Mumtaz Qadri, killer of former Punjab Governor Salman Taseer.The blast left at least 30 people injured, while two police personnel and a woman were among the dead.District Police Officer Sohail Khalid told DawnNews that the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber.The attacker was intercepted by policemen stationed at the court gate as he was attempting to enter the sessions court premises.The cops fired at the attacker who detonated his explosives with a loud bang. At least 17 people, including two policemen were killed while 30 others were wounded in the attack.Eyewitnesses at the site said they heard firing after a loud blast.