Bomber set off explosives while embracing minister: Report

A suicide bomber aged 20-22 hugged Pakistani provincial Minister Israrullah Gandapur to wish him on Eid before setting off explosives that killed him, a report said today.
The Law Minister of the northwestern Khyber-Pakthtunkhwa province was assassinated on Wednesday as he was greeting people at his home on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha.
According to an initial report from the provincial government, the bomber was a local and aged between 20 and 22 years. According to the province's Home Secretary, the attacker was wearing a turban and spoke to Gandapur in the local language.
The report further said the attacker detonated his explosive-rigged vest while embracing Gandapur, Geo TV reported.

Gandapur, a leader of Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf party, was among 10 people killed in the attack. He was the son of former provincial Chief Minister Inayatullah Khan Gandapur, who served in the early 1970s.
He was elected as an independent candidate during this year's general election but later joined the Tehrik-e-Insaf. His brother Ikramullah sustained minor wounds in the blast.

Chief Minister Pervez Khattak today urged the federal government to accelerate negotiations with militants. He announced the formation of an anti-terrorism police force for the province that will be led by a Deputy Inspector General.
He also directed the head of the paramilitary Frontier Corps to deploy Elite Force personnel at all major public places.

Khattak said police station chiefs will be held responsible for any attacks within their area. He also sanctioned better weapons and equipment for security forces and directed authorities to install surveillance cameras at all check posts.