Tremors jolt Islamabad, parts of KP and Punjab

Federal capital Islamabad and parts of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were jolted by a 5.8 magnitude earthquake on Saturday afternoon, two months after more than 300 people were killed by a 7.6 strong quake in the same mountainous region.
The epicentre of the earthquake was the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan (36.50N, 71.09E), with a focal depth of 175km.
Strong shocks were felt in the provincial capital Peshawar and Islamabad at 13.37 local time, driving panic-stricken residents out of their offices and residences.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak was addressing a seminar on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor ( CPEC) in Peshawar when the tremors were felt. Several women participants left the hall in hurry. Khattak, however, continued his speech after a pause.
The tremors were also reported from Swat, Lower Dir, Chitral, Rawalpindi, Sheikhupura, Chiniot, Muzaffarabad, Muzaffar Garh, Noshera, Attock, Hangu, Dina, Shangla and adjoining areas.
No reports of casualties or damage were received.
The latest earthquake comes nearly three months after a 7.2 earthquake jolted major cities of Pakistan, including the northern areas, leaving nearly 300 dead and around 3,000 injured due to building collapses, landslides, stampedes and other quake related incidents.
Pakistan is located in the Indus-Tsangpo Suture Zone, which is roughly 200km north of the Himalaya Front and is defined by an exposed ophiolite chain along its southern margin. This region has the highest rates of seismicity and largest earthquakes in the Himalaya region, caused mainly by movement on thrust faults.
Active faults and resultant earthquakes in Pakistan, India and Afghanistan are the result of convergence between the S. Asian and Eurasia plates.
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