Suicide Blast Kills At Least 44 At Pakistan Political Gathering

KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA, Pakistan July 30 -At least 39 people were killed and dozens more wounded Sunday July 30 in a suicide bombing at a political gathering of a leading Islamic party in northwest Pakistan.

Officials said the blast, which took place in the town of Khar near the border with Afghanistan, targeted the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F (JUI-F) party, a government coalition partner led by an influential firebrand cleric.

Riaz Anwar, the health minister for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, said the attack also left 123 people wounded, including 17 in serious condition.

More than 400 party members and supporters had gathered under a canopy when the attack took place as the supporters awaited the arrival of the central leadership.

The bomber detonated himself in close proximity to the stage.

Pakistan’s national assembly is due to dissolve in the next few weeks ahead of elections expected in October or November, and political parties are already preparing to campaign.

The blast coincides with a visit by a senior delegation of Chinese officials, including Vice Premier He Lifeng, who are due to arrive in the capital later Sunday evening.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but the local chapter of the Islamic State (IS) group has recently carried out attacks against JUI-F.

Pakistan has seen a sharp rise in militant attacks since the Afghan Taliban surged back to power in neighbouring Afghanistan in 2021.