PAKISTAN: Nine killed and 25 injured in suicide blast near Nawaz Sharif's residence

The suicide attack was carried out by a teenaged boy who blew himself up near the checkpost close to the house of former PM Nawaz Sharif. Watch visuals here.

9 killed in suicide blast near Pakistan's former PM Nawaz Sharif's residence.

Lahore: At least nine people were killed in a suicide blast near the residence of Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Lahore on Wednesday. A boy apparently in his teenage blew himself close to a check-post near the house of ousted PM Sharif and next to the congregation of the Tableeghi Jamaat centre. Five of the nine deceased were policemen and around 25 people were injured in the attack. "Five policemen - two inspectors and three constables - are among nine persons killed in the blast. Around 14 policemen are among the 25 who were injured in the blast. The condition of four policemen is stated to be critical," Rescue 1122 spokesman Jam Sajjad told PTI. The Rescue ambulances have shifted the injured to the Sharif medical complex and other nearby hospitals. Inspector General Police Punjab Arif Nawaz confirmed that the blast was a suicide attack carried out by a teenaged boy  who blew himself up near the checkpost. Deputy Inspector General Police Lahore Dr Haider Ashraf said: "A teenaged boy blew himself up at the check post set up close to the Tableeghi centre where at least 14 or so cops were present". He said the "police personnel" were the target of the blast.  "The condition of some policemen is critical," he said. It was such a powerful blast that its sound was heard several kilometers from the site. A fire ball was seen after the blast at the Nisar Police Check Post. Some reports said Tahreek-i-Taliban Pakistan has claimed the responsibility of the blast. The suicide attack has taken place a week before the semi-finals of the Pakistan Super League in Lahore. "The PSL semi-finals will be held in Lahore as per schedule as we have made all security arrangements in this regard," Ashraf said. Pakistan Rangers quick response force has reached the spot and cordoned off the area along with the police. This is the first explosion targeting the provincial capital in 2018. Lahore experienced multiple terror attacks in 2017 that killed more than 60 people. Check visuals of the attack here.