In the second terror attack in Pakistan in a day, at least nine people were killed and 40 others injured as a suicide bomber attacked Mardan's district courts on Friday. Mardan is in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.

The Express Tribune reports: "First there was a small blast followed by a big blast,' chief rescue officer in Mardan Haris Habib said.

The attacker lobbed a hand grenade before killing himself at the main gate of the Mardan district courts, DPO Mardan told The Express Tribune.

Following the blast, security forces arrived at the spot and cordoned off the area.

An investigation is underway while the injured are being shifted to local hospitals.

According to a Rescue 112 official the number of injured is expected to rise. A state of emergency has been declared at local hospitals.

Representational image.