Police reported that a suicide bomber struck a political convention hosted by an Islamist party in northwest Pakistan on Sunday, killing at least 44 people.
The attack on Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) party members who had congregated in the town of Khar, Bajaur district, close to the Afghan border, resulted in more than 100 injuries, including 17 critical ones.
According to local authorities, the assailant set off explosives close to the convention’s stage.
The attack’s first perpetrator has not been identified. However, the local ISIS branch has already targeted JUI-F party officials because they view them as heretics.
The incident was “strongly condemned” by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to a statement issued by his office.
The statement continued, “An investigation is currently being conducted, and the prime minister’s office has asked the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah for a report.”
In a statement made public by his press office, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the party’s head, expressed “deep sorrow and regret” in the wake of the explosion.
“Peace be upon JUI workers,” the message concluded. “The injured should receive the best care possible from the federal and provincial governments.”
More than 500 individuals were reportedly present at the event when the blast took place, according to a witness.
Rahim Shah told Pakistani news agency Dawn, “A strong blast knocked me unconscious.
He claimed that when he turned around, “people were screaming and even shots were fired,” and that there was blood all over the place.
Ahead of elections later this year, Pakistani political groups are starting their campaigns.