PESHAWAR: At least 44 people, including a Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl local leader, were killed in an explosion that took place at the workers’ convention in Bajaur’s Khar on Sunday.
More than 200 people were wounded in the blast that occurred during the speech of a JUI-F leader. A cameraman of the private news channel Samiullah was among the wounded, who is said to be in critical condition.
Security forces immediately cordoned off the area, while the rescue teams arrived at the site. The injured were shifted to hospitals in Timergara and Peshawar.
The death toll could rise further as many of the injured are in critical condition, sources said.
Abdul Jalil Khan, JUI-F Khyber Pakhtunkhwa spokesperson, said that the blast occurred at around 4pm as the local leader Maulana Laeeq was addressing the convention.
He said that JUI-F Senator Abdul Rasheed and MNA Maulana Jamaluddin were also present during the convention. He said that one of the dead includes Maulana Ziaullah, JUI-F’s Tehsil Khar Amir.
JUI-F chief Fazl demands inquiry
Meanwhile, JUI-F chief and Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) president Maulana Fazlur Rehman demanded Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Caretaker Chief Minister Azam Khan to carry out an inquiry into the incident.
Condemning the explosion, he prayed for the health of the wounded and the higher ranks of the deceased.
Fazl also urged the party workers and supporters to reach to the hospital and donate blood.
He said that JUI workers should remain peaceful and federal and provincial governments should provide the best treatment to the wounded.
Mohsin Naqvi, Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister, condemned the blast, saying that the nation was united against the scourge of terrorism and would end its menace through the strength of unity.
He said that those who play with the lives of innocent citizens do not deserve to be called human beings.
Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Sirajul Haq also condemned the incident and said that the blast was aimed at spreading chaos in Pakistan.
He said that terrorist and their facilitators would not be able to succeed in their nefarious ambitions.
Haque also requested the government to conduct an immediate probe into the incident.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman, also condomed the blast. He said that the federal and provincial governments should bring the facilitators of the terrorist elements s to justice.
Expressing his sympathies and extending condolences to the families of the deceased, the PPP chairman said that the planners of terrorism must be eliminated.
Who is behind the attack?
As Pakistan has started witnessing peace and stability, and many top officials from different countries have recently paid visits to Islamabad, the enemy forces have intensified their terrorist activities to sabotage its development process. Especially, when a special envoy of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Vice Premier of the State Council, He Lifeng is arriving in Pakistan today to attend the Decade of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) celebrations, some analysts are pointing their fingers at India. Due to India’s past record of trying to sabotage Pakistan’s peace process and development initiatives, particularly targeting CPEC, there is no reason not to assume that the latest terrorist attack could have its support.
