A time bomb exploded at Nishtarabad CD-market here on Tuesday, injuring at least 16 people, police said. SSP Tahir Khan said the bomb was placed between two video centres in a crowded area. The injured were rushed to hospital. Four were stated to be in critical condition.Nishtarabad Video Shops Union President Sher Dil told Daily Times the violence against CD shops was orchestrated by intelligence agencies. “We’re being targeted to malign the image of some people.”
He said the blast damaged almost all 40 shops in the market, causing losses in the millions. “We suspect … people who recently sent letters warning CD-shop owners to shut their businesses, saying it is un-Islamic,” AP quoted police chief Abdul Majid Marwat as saying.
Separately, four CD-markets in Mattani, bordering Darra Adamkhel, were bombed on Monday, destroying 12 shops. Meanwhile, four policemen were injured by a remote-controlled bomb in Kohat, police said.