Four persons were killed and nearly 60 injured today when a suicide attacker targeted the provincial police chief in Quetta city of southwestern Pakistan.
The bomber rammed his explosives-laden vehicle into the wall of the official residence of Balochistan Police chief Mushtaq Sukhera late this evening.
Sukhera, who was returning home from work at the time of the attack, escaped unhurt and was taken to an undisclosed location, officials said.
Four persons were killed instantly and 58 others were injured.
The wounded, including 12 policemen, were taken to nearby hospitals and officials said eight of them were in a serious condition.
The suicide attack was followed by intense firing.
It could not immediately be ascertained who had opened fire.
TV news channels reported that several rockets were also fired at different parts of Quetta before the suicide attack.
The suicide attack damaged the Quetta Press Club and several government buildings located within a high-security enclave.
A journalist present in the Press Club was injured.
No group claimed responsibility for the suicide attack, which came a day after Pakistan's general election.
A string of gun and bomb attacks during and after the polling claimed nearly 50 lives.
Caretaker Prime Minister Mir Hazar Khan Khoso condemned the suicide attack and directed the provincial government to tighten security for the protection of lives and property.
