40 killed in blast at political party's meeting in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province
Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where an explosion at a gathering of an Islamic political party resulted in the loss of at least 40 lives, with many others sustaining injuries. The blast struck during the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) workers' convention in Khar, Bajaur, as reported by Geo News, with the police confirming the casualties. The injured individuals have been promptly transported to a nearby hospital, and law enforcement agencies have taken measures to cordon off the affected area.
Rescue 1122 spokesperson Bilal Faizi told the Dawn newspaper that five ambulances had reached the site. Senior police officer Nazir Khan told AP that the workers convention of Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s Jamiat Ulema Islam party was taking place on the outskirts of Khar, the capital of Bajur district, when the explosion took place. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack but the Islamic State group operates across the border in Afghanistan.
Maulana Ziaullah, the local chief of Rehman's party, was among the dead. Senator Abdur Rasheed and former lawmaker Maulana Jamaluddin was also on the stage but escaped unhurt. Party officials said Rehman was not in the rally.
Rehman is considered to be a pro-Taliban cleric and his political party is part of the coalition government in Islamabad. It is not known whether Rehman was present. Meetings are being organized across the country to mobilize supporters for the coming elections.
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