By ANWARULLAH KHAN and RIAZ KHAN (Associated Press)
KHAR, Pakistan (AP) — A robust bomb ripped by means of a political rally by supporters of a hard-line cleric and political chief on Sunday within the nation’s northwestern Bajur district, police and well being officers stated. At least 40 folks had been killed and almost 200 wounded, together with kids, in one of many worst assaults lately.
Senior police officer Nazir Khan stated the employees’ conference of Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s Jamiat Ulema Islam celebration was happening on the outskirts of Khar, the capital of Bajur district, when the explosion befell. AP video confirmed wounded folks being carried from the scene within the chaotic aftermath of the explosion.
Bajur was a haven for Islamic militants. It is the previous stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban, generally known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, a militant group that may be a shut ally of the Taliban authorities of Afghanistan. The TTP was lately evicted from the world because of operations by the Pakistani navy.
In a press release despatched to The Associated Press, the TTP condemned the bombing, saying it was aimed toward pitching Islamists in opposition to one another. Zabiullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Afghan Taliban, additionally condemned the bombing. “Such crimes cannot be justified in any way,” he stated in a message on the social media platform X, previously generally known as Twitter.
Though a separate group, the TTP stays an in depth ally of the Afghan Taliban, who seized energy in Afghanistan in mid-August 2021. The takeover emboldened the TTP. They unilaterally ended a cease-fire settlement with the Pakistani authorities final November and have since stepped up assaults throughout the nation.
One of the victims, Adam Khan, 45, was hit by splinters in his leg and each arms. He stated it was round 4 p.m. when the explosion knocked him to the bottom.
“There was dust and smoke around and I was under some injured people from where I could hardly stand up, only to see chaos and some scattered limbs,” he stated.
Initially, police stated 10 folks had been killed however later extra our bodies arrived at an area hospital, bringing the loss of life toll to 40. Feroz Jamal, the provincial info minister, instructed The Associated Press that up to now 40 folks had been “martyred” and almost 200 wounded within the bombing.
The JUI employees’ conference was organized in a corridor near a market, however later tents had been added due to the massive variety of supporters who turned out. The venue was being guarded by celebration volunteers with batons. An announcement was being made for the arrival of Abdul Rasheed, a senior chief of the celebration, when the bomb exploded.
The bombing was one of many 4 worst assaults within the northwest since 2014, when 147 folks, largely schoolchildren, had been killed in a Taliban assault on an army-run faculty in Peshawar. In January, 74 folks had been killed in a bombing at a mosque in Peshawar. More than 100 folks, largely policemen, died in a bombing on the metropolis’s mosque at police headquarters in February this 12 months.
District well being officer Dr. Faisal Khan stated 40 our bodies from the blast had been at Khar’s foremost hospital. Some of the wounded had been in vital situation and had been being transferred to a facility in Peshawar and the adjoining district of Dir, together with by military helicopters.
Prime Minister Shebaz Sharif and President Arif Alvi condemned the assault and requested officers to supply all potential help to the wounded and the bereaved households.
Maulana Ziaullah, the native chief of Rehman’s celebration, was among the many useless. JUI leaders Rasheed and former lawmaker Maulana Jamaluddin had been additionally on the stage however escaped unharmed. Party officers stated Rehman was not on the rally.
Rasheed, the regional chief of the celebration, stated the assault was an try to take away JUI from the sector earlier than parliamentary elections in November, however he stated such ways wouldn’t work.
Rehman is taken into account to be a pro-Taliban cleric and his political celebration is a part of the coalition authorities in Islamabad. Meetings are being organized throughout the nation to mobilize supporters for the upcoming elections.
“Many of our fellows lost their lives and many more wounded in this incident. I will ask the federal and provincial administrations to fully investigate this incident and provide due compensation and medical facilities to the affected ones,” Rasheed stated.
Mohammad Wali, one other attendant on the rally, stated he was listening to a speaker deal with the group when the large explosion quickly deafened him.
“I was near the water dispenser to fetch a glass of water when the bomb exploded, throwing me to the ground,” he stated. “We came to the meeting with enthusiasm but ended up at the hospital seeing crying, wounded people and sobbing relatives taking the bodies of their loved ones.”
___
Riaz Khan reported from Peshawar. Associated Press author Munir Ahmad contributed from Islamabad.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”