Former Senator among 3 killed in blast in N. Pakistan

At least three people, including a former Senator Hidayatullah Khan, were killed in a blast in PakistanÂ's northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province bordering Afghanistan on Wednesday, said officials. A senior police official, Regional Police Officer Muhammad Ali Khan Gandapur told media that the former senatorÂ's car was targeted in an attack in Damadola area of Bajaur in KPK. He confirmed that three people including the former senator were killed in the blast. According to the Senate, he was an independent Senator from March 2018 to March 2024. The police reported that the explosion was remotely controlled resulting in the immediate deaths of former Senator Hidayatullah and two others. President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari in a statement expressed regret over the deaths in the blast. He strongly condemned the attack and extended his condolences to the family members of the victims. The Chief Minister of KPK, Ali Amin Gandapur condemned the incident and summoned a report from police authorities. The blast followed the federal government announcement that it would launch a new counter-terrorism operation named "Azam e Istehkam" against the militants. The announcement comes at a time when Pakistan has witnessed a rise in terror attacks especially in KPK and Balochistan provinces bordering Afghanistan after the banned outfit Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ended the ceasefire agreement with the government last year. Source: Kuwait News Agency