At least 22 people were killed and more than 60 were injured when a car bomb exploded on Tuesday near the home of a politician in Pakistan's Punjab province, regional media said.

The blast occurred in the town of Dera Ghazi Khan, outside the house of Zulfiqar Khosa, an adviser to the province's chief minister, Al Jazeera said.

Neither the politician himself nor any members of his family were hurt as the result of the attack, media reports said, adding most of the victims and the injured were shopping at a nearby market.

"There are many people trapped in the rubble after the powerful blast demolished some 10 shops," town commissioner Hassan Iqbal was quoted by Al Jazeera as saying.

He said a rescue operation was underway, adding "we fear the toll may go up."

No one has so far claimed responsibility for the attack, but authorities believe radical Islamic groups operating in the region were responsible.

Taliban militants have struck numerous times in Pakistan in recent weeks, killing hundreds of civilians and soldiers. More than 2,500 people died in the country as the result of terrorist attacks in the past two and a half years.

An army offensive against the insurgents has been underway in western Pakistan since early May. More than 2,000 militants have been reported killed so far.

NEW DELHI, December 15 (RIA Novosti)