44 killed, 120 injured in suicide attack in northwestern Pakistan
At least 44 people have been killed and dozens of others injured in a suicide attack at a political gathering in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to reports.
The blast targeted the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F (JUI-F) party - a government coalition partner led by an influential firebrand cleric -- when more than 400 members and supporters gathered under a tent in the town of Khar, near the border with Afghanistan, on Sunday, officials said. Khar is located in the former tribal area of Bajaur.
"The tent had collapsed on one side, trapping people who were desperately attempting to escape," said Abdullah Khan, who tried to help the victims.
"There was utter confusion, with human flesh, limbs, and body parts scattered throughout the area, alongside lifeless bodies."
Riaz Anwar -- the health minister for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province -- told AFP late Sunday that 44 people had been confirmed killed and at least 120 injured.
"It was a suicide attack, with the bomber detonating himself in close proximity to the stage," he told AFP.
JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman demanded of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the interim chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa conduct an inquiry into the Bajaur blast.
JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has demanded of the prime minister and interim chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa conduct an inquiry into the Bajaur blast that killed over 35 people on Sunday
— Aaj TV English (@AajNewsEnglish) July 30, 2023
Read More: https://t.co/WAlXw3gtkJ#AajNews #Bajaur #BajaurBlast pic.twitter.com/K0gg4fNNrj
"A senior leader from the party was due to address the ceremony, but before his arrival, a bomb explosion took place," Akhtar Hayat Gandapur, the inspector general of police for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, told AFP.
He said the blast targeted the JUI-F convention.
Sabeeh Ullah, a 24-year-old party supporter who had his arm fractured by the blast, said the scale of injuries was horrifying.
"I found myself lying next to someone who had lost their limbs. The air was filled with the smell of human flesh," he told AFP by phone.
- A helicopter has been deployed to airlift the critically injured and transfer them to the nearest hospital for enhanced medical care.
— Eagle Eye (@zarrar_11PK) July 30, 2023
- Meanwhile, the teams of the #Pakistan #Army and FC are actively involved in conducting rescue operations.#Bajaur #Blast #PakistanArmy pic.twitter.com/YjdI2pASZn
Pakistan has seen a resurgence of attacks by militants since last year when a ceasefire between the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the government in Islamabad broke down.
The TTP pledges allegiance to Afghanistan's Taliban militants. The Pakistani government accuses the Taliban government of providing hideouts to the TTP militants near the border.
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