At least 44 people have lost their lives, and more than 100 others injured during an explosion at an Islamist party’s rally in Pakistan’s north-west Bajaur district.
Police suspect the explosion to be a possible suicide attack and have completed a rescue operation, transporting the injured to hospitals.
The motivation behind the attack remains unclear, and security forces have cordoned off the area for investigation.
The incident occurred during the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) workers’ convention in the town of Khar, near the Afghanistan border.
Pictures showed a large gathering under a canopy when the blast occurred near the stage, causing the tent to collapse and trapping people attempting to escape.
Ambulances were seen transporting the injured to hospitals, with military helicopters aiding those with serious injuries to nearby Peshawar for urgent medical treatment.
A regional JUI-F leader, Maulana Ziaullah, was among the casualties.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, condemned the attackers as terrorists who targeted those advocating for Islam, the Quran, and Pakistan, vowing to eliminate them.
The JUI-F, a significant religious political party and part of the government coalition, had organized the gathering to garner support ahead of an upcoming election.
“The terrorists are enemies of Pakistan, we will eliminate them from the face of existence,” the PM said in a statement.
Although no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, the local branch of the Islamic State group (IS) has been linked to previous attacks in the region, including targeting JUI-F.