By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Officials say there has been an explosion near a police checkpoint in Pakistan's volatile northwest, and that there are an unknown number of casualties.
The violence Saturday comes as Pakistani lawmakers vote for a new president.
Police official Taj Din says the explosion was on the outskirts of the main northwest city of Peshawar. Ambulances rushed to the scene.
Pakistan faces rising violence, particularly in recent weeks as the Taliban have said they are retaliating against military offensives in the northwest.