Pakistan has claimed that the powerful explosion near President Pervez Musharraf's highly guarded residence in Rawalpindi was not aimed at him as media reports said it could have been caused by a bomb or a missile.
"Nothing is related to the President or the Army House," Army Spokesman Maj Gen Shaukat Sultan has said referring to the blast on Wednesday night in the garrison town.
Despite official denials, reports continue to speculate about yet another abortive attempt targeting Musharraf, who survived two bids on his life in December 2003.
Pakistani daily Dawn quoted officials as saying that the explosion was caused by a bomb while a huge quantity of other explosives found in the park, located a few hundred yards away from Army House where Musharraf stays, failed to detonate.
Soon after the explosion, heavy army contingents moved into the area and cordoned it off. It was unclear whether it was a bomb or a missile, the daily said.
While an official statement said the blast caused no casualties or damage to property, local people, whose kin worked in the park stalls, anxiously waited for the news about their relatives.
{{/usCountry}}While an official statement said the blast caused no casualties or damage to property, local people, whose kin worked in the park stalls, anxiously waited for the news about their relatives.
{{/usCountry}}Locals said the explosion was so powerful that it was heard several kilometers away and windowpanes of several residences were smashed in the area.
"A search party was sent to the spot, which found some explosive material there. Now the Bomb Disposal Squad and the search parties are carrying out the clearance of the area," the statement said.