—— Suicide attack targeted JUI-F workers’ convention
—— Three Army helicopters took part in the rescue mission
—— Maulana demands high-level inquiry into attack
BAJAUR: At least 40 were killed and more than 150 injured in a bomb blast that took place in Khar tehsil of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bajaur district on Sunday, ARY News reported on Sunday quoting Rescue 1122.
At least 40 persons were killed and 200 sustained injuries in the powerful bomb blast that targeted Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) workers convention.
It was learnt that nearly 400 people were attending the JUI-F workers convention on Shanday Morr near the NADRA office. Law enforcement agencies cordoned off the area.
JUI-F Khar Ameer Maulana Ziaullah Jan and Hamidullah were killed in the incident. A private news channel’s cameraman Samiullah was also among the wounded persons.
Caretaker KP Information Minister said that 200 persons got injured in the bombing. Hospitals in Bajaur and nearby areas were put on high alert and critically wounded persons will be shifted to Peshawar.
Three Pakistan Army helicopters took part in the rescue mission and 10 critically wounded persons were shifted to Peshawar’s Lady Reading Hospital.
Inspector General Frontier Corps (IG FC) Major General Noor Wali Khan also reached Bajaur and supervised the rescue activities. Earlier, Deputy Commissioner (DC) confirmed that 35 persons were killed in a powerful bomb blast near the NADRA office on Shanday Morr in a JUI-F workers convention.
Nearly 150 wounded persons including several in critical condition were shifted to the nearby hospital, he added.
KP Governor Ghulam Ali also confirmed the 30 deaths in the bomb explosion.
JUI-F central leader Hafiz Hamdullah said that he was also going to attend the workers convention but he did not join the public event due to his busy schedule. While condemning the bombing incident, Hafiz Hamdullah said that it is terrorism and chaos.
JUI-F supremo Maulana Fazlur Rehman expressed sorrow over the bomb explosion and demanded the prime minister and caretaker KP chief minister conduct a high-level inquiry.
He prayed for eternal rest for the departed souls and the early recovery of the injured workers. He appealed to the JUI-F workers to stay peaceful and immediately reach the hospital to donate blood for the injured persons.
He also demanded the federal and provincial government to provide the best medical facilities to the wounded persons.
Several politicians strongly condemned the bomb blast and expressed condolences over the loss of precious lives in the terrorist incident.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari condemned the bomb explosion at the JUI-F workers convention and expressed condolences to the affected families. He also prayed for the early recovery of the injured persons.
He demanded the federal and KP governments bring the terrorists and their facilitators to justice. He urged that the masterminds behind the terrorist attacks should be eliminated.
PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari condemned the blast and urged to clear all parts of the country from nurseries of the terrorists like Swat. Speaker National Assembly (NA) Raja Pervaiz Ashraf condemned the bomb explosion. He said that terrorising innocent citizens is a shameful action and such elements are enemies of humanity and the country. He added that the nation is united to eliminate terrorism.
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Ameer Sirajul Haq strongly condemned the bomb blast at JUI-F public gathering and said that the attack aims to create chaos in the country.
He said that government has a responsibility to protect the lives and properties of all political leaders and citizens. Sirajul Haq demanded to conduct a probe into the bombing incident and bring the culprits to justice. –Agencies
