MIRAMSHAH, July 12: A suicide bomber blew himself up in front of the political agent’s office in the restive North Waziristan Agency’s Miramshah area on Thursday, killing four people and injuring three others, officials said.

Political agent Pirzada Khan, who was in the office at the time, escaped unhurt. The injured were taken to the agency headquarters hospital.

An official quoted an eyewitness as saying that a man, disguised as a Khasadar Force soldier, entered the tehsil headquarters through the main gate at about 4:30pm and proceeded to the office of the political agent. When stopped by gatekeeper Fareedullah, he scuffled with him and later pulling out a pistol fired on him, the official said.

Sources said the man blew himself up when another guard, Attaullah, tried to get hold of him from behind.

Three of the dead were identified as Attaullah, Fareedullah and Saddique Amin, also a government employee. The explosion damaged furniture and windowpanes of nearby offices.

“The body of the bomber was mutilated beyond recognition,” an official told Dawn.