Moderate quake jolts Pakistan

ISLAMABAD - An earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale jolted Pakistan’s capital Islamabad and northwest region of the country early Monday, but there were no reports of casualties.

The earthquake took place at about 2:45 a.m. local time and the tremor lasted only for a few seconds, Xinhua reported.

The epicentre of the quake was located 10 km down the earth in Hazara area, a place some 20 km northwest of Islamabad, an official said.

The tremor was also felt in most parts of northwest Pakistan including Peshawar and Muzaffarabad.

No casualties and damage were reported in the quake, the report said.