Islamabad, Dec 15 (DPA) At least 20 people were killed and more than 50 injured Tuesday when a car bomb exploded near the residence of a minister in Pakistan’s eastern province of Punjab, officials said.
The blast in Dera Ghazi Khan town demolished the house of Dost Mohammad Khosa, the provincial minister for local agencies and community development, and damaged half a dozen buildings in an adjacent market.

Mubarak Athar, the regional police chief, said the explosion came from a car bomb.

“It is clear that the bomb was planted in a car, but we will determine later whether there was a man in the vehicle or not,” Athar told reporters.

He said 20 people had so far been confirmed dead while 50 others were injured, adding that the explosion also damaged eight shops, a mosque and several cars.

Earlier, Hassan Iqbal, the civil administrator of the town, said “30 to 40 people were believed to be buried under the rubble.”

Iqbal said Khosa’s home was the target of the attack, but the minister he was not at home when it occurred.

Television footage showed relief workers clearing the debris.

The explosion left a 3-metre deep crater near the main gate of Khosa’s residence, officials said. It was the latest in a wave of terrorist attacks sweeping through the country in recent weeks.

Taliban militants are carrying out the deadly strikes to avenge ongoing government military operations in the lawless tribal region that borders Afghanistan.

Officials said the attacks further strengthened the country’s resolve to fight Islamist insurgency.

“When the terrorists have started to target ordinary citizens, the entire nation has no option but to stand up against these barbarians with courage and unity,” Punjab’s Senior Minister Rana Sanaullah said Tuesday.