Officials: Car bomb kills at least 11 policemen in Karachi

Eleven Pakistani policemen were killed Thursday when a suicide car bomber struck their bus, the latest in a series of near-daily attacks since the government called for peace talks with militants.

The bombing in the commercial hub of Karachi, which wounded 47 others, came as Pakistan has been negotiating with the Taliban to end a seven-year insurgency.

Munir Sheikh, a senior police official, told reporters the bomber struck in the early morning.

"Apparently it was a suicide car attack as an explosive-laden car hit the police bus transporting officials. So far 11 policemen have died."

Another official, Farooq Awan who heads a special investigative unit, said the bus was making a U-turn after leaving a training centre when a small van struck it.

Doctor Semi Jamali at Karachi's Jinnah hospital confirmed they had received 11 bodies.

At least 47 wounded officers were hospitalised and 10 of them were in critical condition, she said.

Police said the blast occurred in an eastern district of Karachi near the national highway.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, which was the 11th since Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced talks on January 29 and said he wants to "give peace another chance".

Provincial officials vowed the bombing would not deter their campaign to root out criminals and terrorists.

"We are investigating this attack from all angles and who had the most to lose by the forces' actions and want harm upon them. But the forces will not be demoralised and will work more aggressively," Sharjeel Memon, minister for information in the southern province of Sindh which includes Karachi, told reporters.