Bhakkar (Pakistan), Oct 7 : At least 25 people were killed and 60 injured in a powerful suicide blast at the house of an MNA (member of national assembly) belonging to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), here last evening.

The suicide bomber blew himself up right in front of MNA Rashid Akbar Niwani’s house in Bhakkar at a time when a large group of people had gathered there to meet the leader. The incident was confirmed as a suicide bomb as the bomber’s head was recovered from the site.

Bhakkar is close to Dera Ismail Khan, an NWFP town which is a gateway to the South Waziristan tribal region, considered a notorious sanctuary for Al Qaeda and the Taliban.

The MNA was, however, reported to be safe, though he received leg injuries.

“It was a suicide attack, the head of the bomber has been recovered. The bomber walked up to the MP’s house and detonated himself in the midst of a crowd of party workers, supporters and relatives,” the Daily Times quoted a senior police officer as saying.

The PML-N leader’s brother Saeed Akbar said: “His condition is not serious, he is alright.”

No terrorist group had owed responsibility for the blast.

Officials said the MP was the target because he was a Shia Muslim and lived in an area where Al Qaeda and Taliban-linked Sunni groups had triggered frequent sectarian attacks in the past.

Nawani has on several occasions spoken in parliament recently against growing sectarian violence between Sunnis and Shias. (ANI)