RAWALPINDI- An explosion was heard at Shakrial Road in Rawalpindi near the Qasar-e-Sakina Imambargah today. Three people got killed and five people are reportedly injured because of the blast.

Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) representative Dr Ayesha Esani confirmed the causalities. The injured were moved to PIMS hospital.

According to our sources, two militants conducted the attack. Medical teams and police authorities are conducting the rescue operation. The area is being cordoned off as the intensity of the blast damaged nearby buildings. The injured are said to be in a critical condition.

Also, security forces are trying to defuse the suicide jacket found from the site. Sources said that a security guard had prevented a suicide bomber armed with grenades from entering the mosque. Jundullah, a splinter group of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the blast. According to Islamabad IG, the attacker seems to be a Pakistani.

Twenty people were killed this month in an attack on imambargah in Peshawar, while 60 were killed on January 30 in a similar attack. Militants call it a revenge for an ongoing army operation in North Waziristan. 

*This is a developing story and will be updated accordingly