At least seven people were killed and over 18 others injured in a powerful explosion near a police station in Lakki Marwat on Tuesday, according to police and hospital officials.
The blast occurred near a rickshaw in Naurang Bazaar, close to the local police station in the Sarai Naurang area.
Hospital authorities confirmed that the bodies of seven victims were shifted to Naurang Hospital following the explosion. Officials said two traffic police officers were among those killed.
Medical staff stated that several women and children were also among the injured brought to the hospital for treatment. In response to the emergency, the hospital administration imposed an emergency across the facility to handle the influx of casualties.
District Police Officer Nazir Khan said preliminary investigations suggested that a vehicle carrying more than one maund of explosive material had been used in the attack.
He said investigators were examining whether the explosion was triggered remotely or carried out as a suicide attack.
Separately, Sohail Afridi sought a detailed report from the provincial inspector general of police regarding the incident. The chief minister described the attack as deeply tragic and assured that the provincial government would extend all possible assistance to the victims and their families.
Pakistan has witnessed a rise in militant violence, particularly in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021.
Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Afghan authorities to prevent militant groups from using Afghan territory to launch attacks inside Pakistan. However, Pakistani officials have accused the Afghan Taliban administration of failing to act against armed groups involved in attacks on Pakistani civilians and security forces.
Earlier this year, Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq following continued cross-border tensions and militant attacks despite previous ceasefire efforts between the two neighbouring countries.