Toll rises to 31 in Pakistan car bombing

At least 31 people were killed and 70 injured when a car loaded with explosives went off Sunday near Khan Razaq police station in Pakistan's Peshawar city, police said.

Six children and two women were among those killed, the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported.

Earlier, Peshawar commissioner Sahibzada Muhammad Anis said the evidence clearly indicated that explosives were planted in the vehicle near the police station and was detonated with a remote-controlled device.

An officer of the bomb disposal squad said 200-250 kg of explosives was used in the blast and probably the target was a hotel situated in the busy Qissa Khawani Bazar.

The officer said the whole vehicle was transformed into a bomb by planting explosives that caused major damage. The bllast created a crater at the site of the blast, the report said.

The blast also ignited fire that engulfed three nearby plazas besides damaging many other shops and vehicles.

Rescue workers and local people rushed the injured to the Lady Reading Hospital where condition of some was stated to be serious.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif strongly condemned the bomb blast in Peshawar and said those involved in the killing of innocent people were devoid of humanity and all religions.

Sharif said the barbaric acts of terrorism could not deter the government's resolve to ensure peace in the country.

President Mamnoon Hussain also condemned the terrorist attack. Terming it a barbaric act, he said the determination of the nation to fight terrorism remained strong.