At least 23 people have been killed and 39 injured in a powerful explosion in Rawalpindi near Islamabad, hospital sources have told Al Jazeera.
Police officials said on Wednesday that explosives were planted in fruit crates at the Sabzi Mandi market in the Pir Wadai area, which lies between the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
Sultan Mehmood, police officer at Sabzi Mandi police station, which is the local police station, very near the blast site told Al Jazeera that officers are conducting a search operation at the location.
The injured were taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital for treatment.
The market is known to be crowded in the mornings. Sources say the casualties may rise.