40 Dead, Over 200 Injured In 'Suicide Blast' Targeting Political Convention In Pakistan's Bajaur

At least 40 people died and over 200 people were injured in the blast targeting political outfit Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F)'s convention.

At least 40 people died, including a local leader of the political outfit Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), in an explosion at the party's convention in Bajaur’s Khar on Sunday, Pakistan's Geo News reported. Caretaker Information Minister Feroze Jamal Shah Kakakhel informed that more than 200 people have been injured during the blast. JUI-F's leader Tehsil Khar's Amir Ziaullah Jan was confirmed to have died in the blast, as per the district emergency officer. The injured persons were shifted to Timrgara and Peshawar, he added.

The explosion reportedly took place inside the convention and security agencies have cordoned off the area, a Geo News report mentioned. The report mentioned Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Inspector General of Police (IGP) Akhtar Hayat Khan as confirming that the initial probe revealed it to be a case of suicide attack.

Several purported visuals of the spot surfaced on social media. 

ABP could not independently check the veracity of the video which also contains graphic scenes, viewers' discretion is advised.

A Geo News cameraman named Samiullah was among the injured shifted to the district headquarters hospital in Lower Dir as he is said to be in critical condition, the report added. 

The probe teams are collecting evidence from the site of the blast, he stated.

Pakistan PM Shehbaz ordered an investigation into the incident and to identify the culprits, Pakistan Prime Minister's Office (PMO) informed, as per Geo News.

JUI-F Khyber Pakhtunkhwa spokesperson Abdul Jalil Khan told the Pak channel that the blast took place at around 4 pm. The outfit's chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman urged the party workers to reach the hospital and donate blood. 

"JUI workers should remain peaceful and federal and provincial governments should provide the best treatment to the injured," Fazl said, as quoted by Geo News.

Federal And Provincial Govts Should Bring Facilitators Of Terrorists To Justice: Pakistan Foreign Minister

The country's Foreign Minister and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, said that the federal and provincial governments should bring the facilitators of the terrorists to justice.

Extending condolences to the kin of the deceased, he said that those who planned this act of terrorism need to be eliminated.

Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the attack emphasising that Pakistan stands united against terrorism and will end the menace through the strength of unity.

"Those who play with the lives of innocent people do not deserve to be called human beings," he added, as per the report.

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