The attack was claimed by Tehreek-i-Taliban
Pakistan (TTP) splinter group Jamaatul Ahrar, which was also behind last year's
deadly blast
at Wagah Border. But TTP central spokesman Mohammad Khorasani in a
statement distanced his group from the Mardan attack, saying “we have nothing
to do with blasts at public places,” reported BBC Urdu.
Rescue 1122 spokesman Bilal Ahmed Faizi said
officials rushed to the site, adding that at least 21 people were killed in the
blast.
The blast took place at a time when the office
was crowded with people lining up to make applications for National Identity
Cards (NIC).
'Suicide attack'
Deputy Inspector General Mardan Division Saeed
Wazir told DawnNews the blast was a "suicide attack carried out by a
bomber".
The DIG added that a security guard posted at
the office stopped the bomber at the gate, after which he detonated his suicide
vest. The suicide attacker was on a motorbike and rammed it into the gate after
being denied entry, he said.
Conflicting reports suggest that explosives
may have been planted on a motorcycle parked near the Nadra office.
Powerful explosion
Officials of the Bomb Disposal Unit that
reached the scene of the explosion said around 8 to 10 kg of explosive material
was used in the attack.
According to initial reports, the powerful
blast took place near the gate of the office and damaged doors and windows in
the building. At least 40 people are said to be injured, with some in serious
condition.
Human body remains were strewn across the
blast site.
The area was cordoned off as rescue and
security sources rushed to the site. The injured were shifted to Mardan Medical
Complex, while an emergency was declared at all medical facilities in the area.
The office is located on the link road that
connects Charsadda to Mardan. Mardan is situated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
province, which has seen several terrorist attacks over the past several years
— many of them targeting security officials.
Search and strike
operation
Earlier in December, a search and strike
operation was launched in Mardan, resulting in the arrest of about 327
suspected persons, including 16 illegally staying Afghan nationals, and persons
involved in various crimes.
Mardan District Police Officer Faisal Shehzad,
talking to media persons, had disclosed that the search and strike operation
was carried out in Par Hoti, Bashkhali, Gujraat, Iranabad, Chora, Bhaijan,
Surakh Dheray, Katakhet, Barikab, Galyara and localities adjoining the city.
He said they had also established checkposts
jointly manned by police and army personnel at different points of the district
and around 500 vehicles were searched with the purpose to take suspected
passengers into custody if there were any inside those vehicles.
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