Pakistani lawmaker injured in roadside blast

A provincial lawmaker and four other people were injured Wednesday in a roadside bombing in Pakistan's north-western city of Peshawar, officials said, DPA reported.

Aurangzeb Khan's vehicle was destroyed in the blast, which took place not far from his residence in the capital of North-West Frontier Province.

Khan was in stable condition at hospital, said Sahibzada Anis, Peshawar's top civil administrator.

The member of the provincial assembly, who belongs to the secular and liberal Awami National Party (ANP), had been the attack's target, Anis said.

The ANP runs the government in the restive province and has been a key supporter of a security campaign against Taliban militants there.

Suicide bombings and other attacks have killed dozens of party leaders, political activists and ANP lawmakers in recent months.

But ANP leader and Senior Minister Bashir Bilour vowed to keep opposing the Taliban, which has turned to roadside bombings targeting government officials and deadly assaults on civilians.

"We have pushed them back, and the situation is improving," Bilour told reporters in Peshawar.