Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Friday strongly condemned the terrorist attack near the residence of a minister in the northwestern city of Peshawar.

 

An official examines the site of a suicide bombing in Peshawar November 9, 2007. A suicide bomber killed two police guards on Friday, blowing himself up as he was stopped trying to enter the home of a government minister, police said.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

 

Aziz said that such cowardly act of violence would not deter the government's commitment to combat extremism and violence.

 

The people of Pakistan, he said, need to stand up to discourage such irrational behavior, since the atmosphere need to be improved.

 

The prime minister directed the provincial government and local authorities to extend all possible assistance to those who have been injured in this unfortunate incident.

 

According to local press reports, a blast occurred near the house of Amir Muqam, who is the federal minister for political affairs and the president of the northwestern provincial branch ofthe ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Q).

 

Muqam, who is intact in the blast said, "My elder brother is among the injured."

 

Police sources were quoted as saying that at least five people were injured in the blast.

 

A suicide bomber blew himself up with a grenade after trying to enter Muqam's house and being stopped by security personnel.

 

Soon afterwards, the residence of the minister has been vacated.

 

According to a police officer, there was a meeting in progress at the time of the suicide attack. After the blast, the security cordon has been put around the area.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 10, 2007)