A suicide bomber in Pakistan set off a blast at a political rally in the northwestern part of the region and killed at least 44 people while injuring nearly 200 others.
A senior leader said that the horrific attack sought to weaken the country's Islamist party. The region where the suicide bomber attacked, the Bajur district, is near the Pakistani border with Afghanistan. It is considered to be a stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban, which is a close ally of Afghanistan's Taliban government.
Pakistani Suicide Bomber Kills 44, Injures 200
Supporters of hardline Pakistani cleric and political party leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman, whose Jamiat Ulema Islam generally gives its support to regional Islamists, were in Bajur for a meeting inside a hall that was close to a market outside the district capital.
In a statement, party officials argued that Rehman was not at the rally at the time of the attack, but organizers added tents due to how many supporters showed up. Additionally, party volunteers equipped with batons were helping to control the massive crowd, as per ABC News.
Before the bomb went off, officials announced the arrival of Abdul Rasheed, a Jamiat Ulema Islam party leader. The recent, deadly attack is considered one of Pakistan's bloodiest in the last few years.
Additionally, provincial police said that the suicide bombing was carried out by an individual who detonated his explosives vest while he was close to the stage where several senior leaders of the party were sitting.
Law enforcement authorities added that initial investigations suggested that the Islamic State group, which operates within Afghanistan and is considered an enemy of the Afghan Taliban, could be responsible for the bombing.
In a statement, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack, as said by a released statement from his office. The prime minister's office is also requesting a report from Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, according to CNN.
Bloodiest Attack in Recent Years
On the other hand, Rehman expressed his "deep sorrow and regret" following the deadly blast, adding, "Peace be upon JUI workers." The party leader said that the federal and provincial governments should treat the injured best.
One witness who was near the area of the blast said that there were roughly 500 people who were attending the convention at the time of the explosion. Rahim Shah said that the powerful blast knocked him unconscious.
When he regained himself, he saw that people were screaming and heard shots fired. The resident also said that he saw blood everywhere after he regained consciousness.
The recent attack is considered the latest sign of the deteriorating security situation within the country, where some militant groups have become more active in the last two years. Since then, they have found a haven in neighboring Afghanistan under the rule of the Taliban group.
Video footage from before the blast showed hundreds of men sitting outside beneath a cloth canopy as party officials were addressing the crowd. When one district leader took to the stage, enthusiastic party workers stood up and chanted, "Allah is great." Then, the explosion rocked the entire crowd, said the New York Times.
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