<p>The bomber struck just after the motorcade of 57-year-old Rehman, a member of the National Assembly or lower house of Parliament, entered Charsadda town in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, where he was to address a gathering at Darul Uloom Islamia seminary.<br /><br />The powerful blast occurred near a government office and a private school, witnesses said.<br /><br />Twelve people, including two members of Rehman's security detail and a woman, were killed while over 30 others, including policemen and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) workers, were injured, officials said.<br /><br />"I am fine. There was a powerful explosion near my car and the windscreen was shattered. Another car in my motorcade was damaged," Rehman told the media.<br />He said he had seen several policemen who were injured by the blast.<br />Rehman cancelled his meeting in Charsadda after the blast.<br /><br />A car in which senior JUI leaders Akram Khan Durrani and Azam Swati were travelling too was damaged in the attack, though they escaped unhurt.<br /><br />The seriously injured persons were taken to a hospital in Peshawar.<br />Footage on television showed several cars that were damaged by the blast.<br />The walls of a nearby mosque were pitted by ball bearings that were packed into the bomber's explosive vest.<br /><br />No group claimed responsibility for the attack.<br />Rehman escaped an attempt on his life yesterday as well when a suicide attacker tried to target his motorcade at Swabi in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. That attack killed 10 people, including two policemen.<br /><br />The attacks have surprised political observers as the JUI is perceived as being pro-Taliban.<br /><br />Rehman has repeatedly called on the federal government to halt military operations against the militants.<br /><br />Rehman told the media today that he had not received any threats. He refused to say who could be behind the two attempts on his life.<br /><br />Earlier this month, Rehman had said in the National Assembly that a perceived misuse of the blasphemy law could be discussed, a statement which was welcomed by the Presidency and minorities and civil society representatives.<br /><br />He had earlier led rallies that had forced the government to abandon possible changes in the country's blasphemy law. <br /><br />Critics of Pakistan's blasphemy law have complained that it is often misused for settling personal scores or to persecute the country's minority communities.<br /><br />Two top leaders of the ruling PPP – Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer and federal minister Shahbaz Bhatti, a Christian -- were assassinated this year for challenging the blasphemy law.<br /><br />Interior Minister Rehman Malik today condemned the attack on the JUI chief and formed a joint investigation team to conduct an inquiry.<br /><br />The team, which includes officials of the police, Federal Investigation Agency and Intelligence Bureau, will submit its report in a week.</p>
<p>The bomber struck just after the motorcade of 57-year-old Rehman, a member of the National Assembly or lower house of Parliament, entered Charsadda town in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, where he was to address a gathering at Darul Uloom Islamia seminary.<br /><br />The powerful blast occurred near a government office and a private school, witnesses said.<br /><br />Twelve people, including two members of Rehman's security detail and a woman, were killed while over 30 others, including policemen and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) workers, were injured, officials said.<br /><br />"I am fine. There was a powerful explosion near my car and the windscreen was shattered. Another car in my motorcade was damaged," Rehman told the media.<br />He said he had seen several policemen who were injured by the blast.<br />Rehman cancelled his meeting in Charsadda after the blast.<br /><br />A car in which senior JUI leaders Akram Khan Durrani and Azam Swati were travelling too was damaged in the attack, though they escaped unhurt.<br /><br />The seriously injured persons were taken to a hospital in Peshawar.<br />Footage on television showed several cars that were damaged by the blast.<br />The walls of a nearby mosque were pitted by ball bearings that were packed into the bomber's explosive vest.<br /><br />No group claimed responsibility for the attack.<br />Rehman escaped an attempt on his life yesterday as well when a suicide attacker tried to target his motorcade at Swabi in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. That attack killed 10 people, including two policemen.<br /><br />The attacks have surprised political observers as the JUI is perceived as being pro-Taliban.<br /><br />Rehman has repeatedly called on the federal government to halt military operations against the militants.<br /><br />Rehman told the media today that he had not received any threats. He refused to say who could be behind the two attempts on his life.<br /><br />Earlier this month, Rehman had said in the National Assembly that a perceived misuse of the blasphemy law could be discussed, a statement which was welcomed by the Presidency and minorities and civil society representatives.<br /><br />He had earlier led rallies that had forced the government to abandon possible changes in the country's blasphemy law. <br /><br />Critics of Pakistan's blasphemy law have complained that it is often misused for settling personal scores or to persecute the country's minority communities.<br /><br />Two top leaders of the ruling PPP – Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer and federal minister Shahbaz Bhatti, a Christian -- were assassinated this year for challenging the blasphemy law.<br /><br />Interior Minister Rehman Malik today condemned the attack on the JUI chief and formed a joint investigation team to conduct an inquiry.<br /><br />The team, which includes officials of the police, Federal Investigation Agency and Intelligence Bureau, will submit its report in a week.</p>