The death toll from a suicide bombing at a Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) workers’ convention in Bajaur has increased to 46 on Monday.
The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) has registered a First Information Report (FIR) to investigate the explosion ripped through the JUI-F convention the other day while hundreds of party workers and local leaders were present.
The blast occurred while a party leader was addressing the gathering.
Among the dead were the party’s Khar General Secretary, Ziaullah, JUI-F District Press Secretary, Mujahid Khan, and his son. The death toll is feared to rise further, as over 150 people were injured in the blast.
The explosion took place near the Shandi area, approximately 2 kilometers from Khar, at around 4 pm on Sunday.
The sources from the public hospital confirmed the increase in the death toll, with five children among the deceased. The injured have been receiving medical treatment at the medical facility.
In response to the attack, traders in Bajaur have announced a shutter-down strike across the district.
The FIR, filed by the KP CTD, charges unknown suspects with terrorism, murder, and attempted murder.
The investigators have already visited the crime site, gathered evidence, and completed the process of geo-fencing at the blast site. The initial assessment indicates that more than 10 kilograms of explosives were used in the attack.
Peshawar Corps Commander Lt Gen Hassan Azhar Hayat visited the District Headquarters Hospital in Khar to inquire about the injured.
He directed the hospital administration to provide the best possible medical treatment to all victims. The commander also extended condolences to the families of those injured and killed in the tragic incident.
Caretaker Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Azam Khan also visited the injured at the District Headquarters Hospital in Khar.
He expressed deep sadness over the loss of lives and condemned the heinous act of targeting peaceful citizens.
The CM assured that the provincial government would support the affected families in this difficult time and emphasized the importance of maintaining law and order.
Security officials suspect the involvement of the militant Islamic State (IS-K) in the suicide bombing.
The blast received widespread condemnations from various political figures, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, former Premier Imran Khan, KP Governor Ghulam Ali, and others.
The authorities are conducting a thorough investigation into the incident, aiming to bring the perpetrators to justice and prevent future attacks of this nature.
