Islamabad - A provincial lawmaker and eight more people were injured Wednesday in a blast in Pakistan's troubled north-west, as US Special Representative Richard Holbrooke visited the region for security talks, officials and police said.

Alam Zaib, who belongs to the secular Awami National Party (ANP), was moved to the hospital in critical condition after his car was hit by a roadside bomb in Peshawar, the capital of North West Frontier Province, party spokesman Zahid Khan said.

The remote-controlled explosive device was believed to be planted on a motorcycle left abandoned by the roadside near Zaib's house, police officer Rahim Shah said.

"Nine people, including Zaib, his bodyguard and driver, were injured in the blast that destroyed the vehicle and damaged nearby structures," Shah said.

No group claimed responsibility for the attack, but Khan said Zaib had been receiving threats from Islamic insurgents.

Zaib's party, which leads the coalition government in the province, is in direct conflict with the rebels for supporting military operations against the Taliban militants in the region.

Several ANP leaders had been targeted since mid-2008 after negotiations between the government and the rebels failed to bring peace to the province and its adjoining tribal areas which serves as sanctuary for al-Qaeda and Taliban militants.

The bombing took place hours after Holbrooke arrived in Peshawar for talks with top provincial leaders. Details of his meetings were not immediately available. (dpa)