- A deadly explosion at a Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) workers’ convention in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bajaur district left at least 39 dead and over 120 injured. The blast took place in the town of Khar, close to the Afghanistan border.
- In response, a significant police presence was established and hospitals in and around Bajaur were put on high alert. Critical patients are being airlifted to larger hospitals in Peshawar and other locations, according to KP’s caretaker Information Minister, Firoz Shah.
- So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which also claimed the life of a local JUI-F leader, Maulana Ziaullah Jan. Investigations are ongoing as authorities seek to bring the perpetrators to justice.
A devastating explosion at a political gathering in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Bajaur district left at least 39 dead and over 120 injured on Sunday, according to KP Health Minister Riaz Anwar. The bomb blast targeted a convention of workers from the Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) party in the town of Khar, near the Afghanistan border.
The blast, which occurred during a large meeting under a tent attended by over 400 JUI-F members and supporters, prompted chaos and panic, as emergency services arrived on the scene to attend to the wounded and transport them to nearby hospitals.
“I can confirm that in the hospital we have 39 dead bodies, with 123 wounded that includes 17 patients in a serious condition,” Anwar said. KP Governor Haji Ghulam Ali later confirmed these figures.
The scene post-explosion was one of disorder, with video footage capturing frightened individuals and emergency vehicles. A significant police presence was quickly established to secure the area.
KP’s caretaker Information Minister, Firoz Shah, informed that hospitals in and around Bajaur had been put on high alert. “We are trying to move critical patients to Peshawar and other hospitals through helicopters,” Shah told 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,” he added.
Among the deceased was Maulana Ziaullah Jan, a local JUI-F leader, as reported by Bajaur District Emergency Officer Saad Khan.
Dr. Faisal Kamal, Bajaur District Health Officer, stated that over 150 injured people were transported to the Bajaur District Headquarters Hospital. He further detailed that dozens of critically injured patients were being transferred to hospitals in Timargarh and Peshawar.
Eyewitness Rahim Shah described the horrific scene: “We were listening to a sermon when a powerful explosion knocked me unconscious,” he said. “When I regained consciousness, there was blood everywhere. People were screaming and even shots were fired.”
In the aftermath, caretaker Chief Minister Azam Khan called for a detailed police report and directed authorities to provide the best medical treatment for the victims.
As of now, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.