Bomb Attack at Pakistani Political Event "54 Dead, Over 200 Injured"

A bomb attack occurred during a political rally held in northwestern Pakistan, resulting in hundreds of casualties.

On the 30th (local time), a boy injured in a bomb attack in Pakistan was being transported to a hospital. On the same day, a suicide bombing occurred at a political rally held in Bajaur, Lakki Marwat, and Parkunt provinces, killing at least 40 people. Police authorities stated that initial investigations suggest the Islamic State (IS), which is hostile to the Afghan Taliban, may be behind the attack.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to foreign media reports including the AP News on the 30th (local time), local police stated that a suicide bomb attack took place at a political rally where Islamic hardline political leaders gathered in Bajaur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in northwestern Pakistan near the Afghanistan border. The death toll has risen to 54 so far, and about 200 people have been reported injured.

The event was reportedly led by Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the leader of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUIF) party, a cleric close to the Afghan Taliban regime. It is known that at least over 1,000 supporters gathered at the venue. AP News reported that when the bomb exploded, there was an announcement that Abdul Rashid, a senior official of the JUIF party, had just arrived.

The police said the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber wearing a vest equipped with explosives, and initial investigations suggest that the Islamic State (IS), which is hostile to the Afghan Taliban, may be behind the attack, and an investigation is underway.

The blast killed the party’s regional chief, Maulana Ziaullah. Rashid, who was on stage, condemned the incident, saying "This attack is aimed at eliminating our party ahead of the November parliamentary elections," and emphasized, "Such tactics will not succeed."

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also condemned the terror attack and called Rehman to express his condolences.

The Bajaur area where the attack occurred is a stronghold of the Pakistan Taliban (TTP), an armed group allied with the Afghan Taliban government. The TTP emphasized in a statement that "the attack targeted Islamists who are hostile to each other." The Afghan Taliban also pointed out on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that "such crimes cannot be justified in any way."

This terror attack is recorded as one of the worst attacks recently occurring in northwestern Pakistan.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.