MONITORING (SW) – The death toll from Sunday’s suicide bombing at a Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) gathering in Pakistan’s Bajaur district rose to 46 on Monday.
More than 40 people were killed and over 150 others injured in Khar, a town bordering Afghanistan, when a powerful explosion ripped through the JUI-F convention.
According to eyewitnesses, hundreds of party workers along with local leaders were present at the gathering when the blast occurred.
According to the district administration and Rescue 1122 officials, the explosion occurred at 4pm near the Shandi area, some 2km from Khar.
Dr Naseeb Gul, the district medical superintendent of the Khar hospital, told Dawn.com today that the death toll of the explosion increased to 46 after another injured person succumbed to his wounds.
He said approximately 90 wounded people were brought to the medical facility, adding that 36 bodies had been handed over to the heirs after identification.
Dr Gul said the deceased included five children.
Meanwhile, traders in Bajaur have announced a shutter-down strike across the district.
According to a Dawn report, security officials believed that yesterday’s bombing was a “suicide attack”. A senior police official claimed that the militant Islamic State (Islamic State in Khorasan, or IS-K) group was possibly involved in the attack.
“There is no question about it,” the official said.
“There was no threat of bombing in the district,” security officials told Dawn.
It may be noted that reports had earlier indicated the presence of IS-K in the Bajaur district. In June, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) had neutralised three IS-K men in the tribal district, they said.
ENDS
