<p>In a separate attack, a tribal elder associated with an anti-Taliban militia and five others were killed when the vehicle they were travelling in was targeted with a roadside bomb in the restive Bajaur region.<br /><br />Tribal elder Malik Gul Shah Ali Khan and five others, including a minor boy, died when the vehicle was targeted with a remote controlled bomb in Salarzai sub-division of Bajaur Agency on Friday morning, officials of the local administration said.<br />The suicide attack occurred at Shah Hasankhel village, located 25 km from Lakki Marwat in the southern part of the North West Frontier Province.<br />About 50 people were watching a volleyball game between two local teams when the bomber struck the playground’s wall with his vehicle.<br />State-run PTV reported that 27 people were killed while police officials said several others were injured.<br /><br />Several houses collapsed due to the powerful explosion and some people were buried in the rubble. Officials said the death toll could rise.<br />No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but police officials said they suspected the Taliban were behind the assault as local residents had cooperated with security forces during a recent operation against militants.<br />District police chief Ayub Khan said residents of Shah Hasankhel and members of a pro-government militia had expelled militants from the area with the help of security forces.<br /><br />The village was earlier considered a stronghold of the Taliban.<br />Friday’s attack was the latest in a series of devastating suicide bombings across Pakistan that has killed over 500 people since October last year.<br />Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani condemned the attack and said such terrorist acts would not weaken his government’s resolve to fight terrorism till it is completely eliminated.<br />In Hangu district of the North West Frontier Province, two militants were killed while planting a bomb, police said.<br />The militants were planting the bomb beside a road when it went off with a loud bang. Both men were killed instantly. Police took their bodies into custody.<br />Meanwhile, at least eight militants were killed in US drone attacks in the troubled North Waziristan tribal region, a Taliban stronghold.<br />A missile fired by a drone struck a vehicle near Navana village in Mirali sub-division this morning, killing three militants.<br />Five militants were killed last night when a drone fired two missiles at a compound at Machikhel village in Mirali. <br /></p>
<p>In a separate attack, a tribal elder associated with an anti-Taliban militia and five others were killed when the vehicle they were travelling in was targeted with a roadside bomb in the restive Bajaur region.<br /><br />Tribal elder Malik Gul Shah Ali Khan and five others, including a minor boy, died when the vehicle was targeted with a remote controlled bomb in Salarzai sub-division of Bajaur Agency on Friday morning, officials of the local administration said.<br />The suicide attack occurred at Shah Hasankhel village, located 25 km from Lakki Marwat in the southern part of the North West Frontier Province.<br />About 50 people were watching a volleyball game between two local teams when the bomber struck the playground’s wall with his vehicle.<br />State-run PTV reported that 27 people were killed while police officials said several others were injured.<br /><br />Several houses collapsed due to the powerful explosion and some people were buried in the rubble. Officials said the death toll could rise.<br />No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but police officials said they suspected the Taliban were behind the assault as local residents had cooperated with security forces during a recent operation against militants.<br />District police chief Ayub Khan said residents of Shah Hasankhel and members of a pro-government militia had expelled militants from the area with the help of security forces.<br /><br />The village was earlier considered a stronghold of the Taliban.<br />Friday’s attack was the latest in a series of devastating suicide bombings across Pakistan that has killed over 500 people since October last year.<br />Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani condemned the attack and said such terrorist acts would not weaken his government’s resolve to fight terrorism till it is completely eliminated.<br />In Hangu district of the North West Frontier Province, two militants were killed while planting a bomb, police said.<br />The militants were planting the bomb beside a road when it went off with a loud bang. Both men were killed instantly. Police took their bodies into custody.<br />Meanwhile, at least eight militants were killed in US drone attacks in the troubled North Waziristan tribal region, a Taliban stronghold.<br />A missile fired by a drone struck a vehicle near Navana village in Mirali sub-division this morning, killing three militants.<br />Five militants were killed last night when a drone fired two missiles at a compound at Machikhel village in Mirali. <br /></p>