31-7-2023 (ISLAMABAD) A devastating suicide bombing at a political gathering in northwest Pakistan has left at least 44 people dead and over 100 others injured, according to officials. The attack targeted the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F (JUI-F) party, a government coalition partner led by a prominent cleric, as hundreds of supporters gathered under a canopy in the town of Khar, near the border with Afghanistan.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and horror as the explosion ripped through the crowd. The tent collapsed on one side, trapping people who were desperately trying to escape. Human flesh, limbs, and body parts were scattered across the area alongside lifeless bodies. The scale of injuries and destruction left survivors and rescuers traumatized.
The health minister for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province confirmed the death toll and the number of wounded, attributing the attack to a suicide bomber who detonated himself near the stage where the party’s supporters had assembled.
While no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, the local chapter of the Islamic State (IS) has been known to carry out violent attacks against JUI-F in the past. Last year, the IS claimed responsibility for targeting religious scholars affiliated with the party, accusing it of hypocrisy for supporting governments and the military despite being an Islamic group.
The party’s leader, cleric Fazlur Rehman, is a former firebrand Islamist hardliner who has softened his public image over the years to forge alliances with secular parties. Though the JUI-F wields considerable influence with its vast network of mosques and madrassas, it typically operates as part of a coalition rather than securing power on its own.
The attack comes at a sensitive time for Pakistan, with elections expected in October or November. The incident has raised concerns about the security situation and the potential for further violence ahead of the elections.
Pakistan has experienced a rise in militant attacks following the resurgence of the Afghan Taliban in neighboring Afghanistan. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a home-grown Taliban group, has been active in carrying out attacks against security officials, including police officers.
The regions bordering Afghanistan have been the primary focus of these militant assaults, with some attacks allegedly planned on Afghan soil, a charge denied by Kabul.
The attack in Bajaur, one of the remote districts bordering Afghanistan, highlights the ongoing challenges in securing the region despite previous military operations to restore order.
In a suicide bomb #Blast in Jamiat event in #Bajuar #Pakistan – the terror haven.
Over 40 killed & over 150 injured pic.twitter.com/6fX47ssdCA— DrVinushaReddy (@vinushareddyb) July 30, 2023
