Local authorities reported that more than 40 individuals lost their lives following a devastating explosion that occurred during a political rally in northwestern Pakistan. The incident happened on Sunday at a gathering organized by the conservative Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) party in the Bajur district, situated near the Afghanistan border.
Over 100 individuals suffered injuries in a blast that occurred during a gathering of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) in the north-west Bajaur district. According to the police, there are indications that the explosion might have been a suicide attack. The rescue operation has been concluded, and all the wounded have been transported to hospitals for treatment, as reported by the officers.
Police officer Nazir Khan, a senior official, stated that the JUI-F’s workers’ gathering was in progress at the time of the detonation.
Akhtar Hayat Gandapur, the inspector-general of police for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, stated that during the incident of the explosion, senior party leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman was not present at the event.
Throughout the country, political gatherings like the JUI-F party’s meeting on Sunday are being conducted to rally supporters for the upcoming elections scheduled to be held by October.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif expressed strong condemnation for the incident and offered his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, including the family of JUI-F leader Ziaullah Jan, whose death was confirmed in the attack, as reported by Radio Pakistan.