35 killed in suicide bombing near Pakistan Army headquarters

At least 35 persons were killed and 50 others injured in a bombing at the entrance of a bank just a half kilometre away from Pakistan Army's General Headquarters (GHQ) in the garrison city of Rawalpindi at 10:40 a.m. (PST) on Monday.

Earlier, it was reported that the blast occurred at the entrance of Shalimar Hotel adjacent to a branch of the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), however, it was later confirmed that the blast occurred at the entrance of the NBP. 

Regional Police Officer Aslam Tareen told reporters that it was a suicide attack and the attacker had reached the spot on a motorcycle, prompting many eyewitnesses to believe that the bomb was planted in a motorcycle. 

There was a huge rush in the National Bank of Pakistan as it is responsible for disbursing salaries to the government employees and it was first working day of November. Serving and retired government officials were standing in a long queue outside the bank to receive salaries and pensions.

Offices of some ticketing agencies and five-star Pearl Continental hotel is also located nearby.

Police and other law-enforcement agencies have cordoned off the area and the injured and dead are being shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital and nearby Combined Military Hospital. Docotors at the District Headquarters Hospital confirmed to have recieved 12 dead bodies while seven bodies were confirmed to have been shifted to the Military Hospital and 16 to the Combined Military Hospital.

Superintendent of Traffic Police Ishtiaq Shah, who was present just metres away from the site of the blast, told reporters that he shifted nearly 20 bodies in various taxicabs and ambulances.

There is a hockey stadium and Pearl Continental Hotel between the site of the Monday's blast and the entrance to the GHQ where terrorists had struck a few weeks ago and had held 42 military and civil officials of the GHQ hostage besides killing around half dozen army personnel including a brigadier and a colonel.

The blast triggered panic among the already traumatized people in Rawalpindi city in particular and across Pakistan in general and people were trying to know the safety of their near and dear ones through telephone calls.

The educational institutions in Rawalpindi, which had opened after a weeklong break after threats of terrorist attacks, were again closed immediately after the blast and security personnel were seen escorting children to their homes.

Reports say that half of the Rawalpindi cantonment has been sealed by the law-enforcement agencies after the blast and security agencies have launched hunt for the culprits involved in the bombing. A helicopter was also hovering over Rawalpindi cantonment soon after the incident.