At least 44 people were killed while over 100 were wounded in a suicide blast at a Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) workers’ convention in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) Bajaur district on Sunday.
The explosion occurred when more than 400 JUI-F members and supporters gathered under a tent in the town of Khar, near the border with Afghanistan.
KP Health Minister Riaz Anwar told AFP that 44 people had been confirmed killed and over 100 wounded.
“It was a suicide attack, with the bomber detonating himself in close proximity to the stage,” he added.
Footage of the site after the blast showed panic-stricken people gathering as ambulances arrived to move the injured to hospitals. Afterwards, a large police contingent cordoned off the area.
KP caretaker Information Minister Firoz Shah said hospitals across Bajaur and neighbouring areas had been put on high alert.
“We are trying to move critical patients to Peshawar and other hospitals through helicopters,” he said while speaking to Geo News.
“Our utmost priority right now is to provide medical treatment to the injured. The blast site has been cordoned off. Pakistan Army and other institutions are assisting us in the operation,” Jamal added.
