Pakistan: Ahead of general election, politician killed in suicide bombing

Gandapur had sustained critical wounds in the suicide blast this morning and was rushed to a Peshawar hospital by helicopter, however he succumbed to his injuries during treatment after fighting for his life for over four hours.

IMAGE: @IlyasMommand/ Twitter

NEW DELHI: A former provincial minister and senior leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf was killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up near his car in the troubled Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. Ikramullah Gandapur was a candidate for the provincial assembly seat from PK-99 constituency. He was killed on his way to an election meeting when the bomber targeted his vehicle in Dera Ismail Khan district. In the suicide bombing, his driver was also killed in the attack while three bodyguards were badly injured. Gandapur had sustained critical wounds in the suicide blast this morning and was rushed to a Peshawar hospital by helicopter, however he succumbed to his injuries during treatment after fighting for his life for over four hours. Gandapur had served as the provincial agricultural minister in the PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government. He was elected through a by-election on the Dera Ismail Khan PK-67 seat, after it was vacated following the death of his brother and law minister Israrullah Gandapur in a suicide attack. Afridi said Gandapur was returning after attending a corner meeting in Kulachi tehsil when the suicide bomber blew himself up close to his vehicle in a narrow muddy street. (with input from agencies)