The blast targeted the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F (JUI-F) party when more than 400 members and supporters gathered under a tent in the town of Khar, near the border with Afghanistan, on Sunday, officials said. Khar is located in the former tribal area of Bajaur.
Emergency officials confirmed 40 deaths to Geo News.
The health minister for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province confirmed 39 deaths with at least 120 people injured.
"I can confirm that in the hospital we have 39 dead bodies, with 123 wounded that includes 17 patients in a serious condition," Riaz Anwar told AFP.
JUI-F is a political party that is part of the government coalition.
JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman demanded of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the interim chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa conduct an inquiry into the Bajaur blast.
"A senior leader from the party was due to address the ceremony, but before his arrival, a bomb explosion took place," Akhtar Hayat Gandapur, the inspector general of police for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, told AFP.
He said the blast targeted the JUI-F convention.
- A helicopter has been deployed to airlift the critically injured and transfer them to the nearest hospital for enhanced medical care.
— Eagle Eye (@zarrar_11PK) July 30, 2023
- Meanwhile, the teams of the #Pakistan #Army and FC are actively involved in conducting rescue operations.#Bajaur #Blast #PakistanArmy pic.twitter.com/YjdI2pASZn
Pakistan has seen a resurgence of attacks by militants since last year when a ceasefire between the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the government in Islamabad broke down.
The TTP pledges allegiance to Afghanistan's Taliban militants. The Pakistani government accuses the Taliban government of providing hideouts to the TTP militants near the border.
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