22 killed in blasts across troubled regions in Pakistan

At least 22 people were killed and 45 others injured in three separate bomb blasts in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province and Orakzai tribal region on Thursday.

At least 14 people were killed and over 20 others injured in two bomb attacks in the restive Balochistan province of southwest Pakistan, officials said.

Eleven people died when a bomb went off in a crowded commercial area in Sibi town, officials said.

Another 25 people were injured by the powerful blast, which damaged four shops and destroyed several cars and motorcycles. Three persons were killed instantly while eight more died in the hospital.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Mohammad Qasim said the bomb, hidden in a bag, was planted by the roadside.

Footage on television showed several shops that were extensively damaged by the blast.

In a separate incident, three security personnel were killed when their vehicle hit a landmine in Dera Bugti area. One security personnel was also injured, officials said.

No group claimed responsibility for the bombings though such attacks are usually blamed on Baloch nationalist groups, who are behind a long-running insurgency.

Meanwhile, at least eight people were killed and 20 others injured when a bomb went off in a busy market in the Orakzai tribal region of northwest Pakistan, officials said.

The bomb, hidden in a donkey cart, exploded in Hasanzai Bazar of Orakzai Agency on Thursday morning.

Police officials said the device was triggered by remote control. Some of the seriously injured persons were taken to Peshawar, the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.

Security forces cordoned off the area and conducted a search operation. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Orakzai Agency is one of the seven semi-autonomous tribal districts of northwest Pakistan.