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India-Pakistan

Suicide bomber suspected as explosion at Islamist rally in Pakistan kills at least 40, wounds more than 150

2023-07-31

[NYPOST] An explosion destroyed an Islamist political rally in northwest Pakistain on Sunday, killing at least 40 people and injuring more than 150 others, police said.

The Inspector General of Police for the Bajaur district said the blast, likely a suicide kaboom, took place in the town of Khar as hundreds gathered to rally behind the Jamaat Ulema-e-Islam
...Assembly of Islamic Clergy, or JUI, is a Pak Deobandi (Hanafi) political party. There are two main branches, one led by Maulana Fazlur Rahman, and one that was led by Maulana Samiul Haq. Fazl is active in Pak politix and Sami spent more time running his madrassah until his secretary rubbed him out in a jealous rage. Both branches sponsor branches of the Taliban, though with plausible deniability...
-Fazl (JUI-F) group.

Officials believe the attack was targeting members of the political group, with its regional leader, Maulana Ziaullah, among those who died in the blast, according to the News Agency that Dare Not be Named.

Officials said the event was held close to a market square in the town, and was guarded by volunteer party members holding batons.

Despite the security, police chief Akhtar Hayat Gandapur told news hounds a jacket wallah likely sneaked into the venue and set off the earth-shattering kaboom just as high ranking leaders for the political party arrived.

First responders rushed to the scene, with local broadcasts showing rescue workers carrying the injured away as other residents flee in panic.

On X (Twitter) there are claims that the explosion was by ISIS to remind both the Taliban and Pakistan that ISIS is the better choice.

Dawn adds:

At least 44 people were killed while over 100 were wounded in a suicide blast at a Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) workers’ convention in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) Bajaur district on Sunday.

The explosion occurred when more than 400 JUI-F members and supporters gathered under a tent in the town of Khar, near the border with Afghanistan.

KP Health Minister Riaz Anwar told AFP that 44 people had been confirmed killed and over 100 wounded.

Bajaur District Emergency Officer Saad Khan told Dawn.com that Maulana Ziaullah Jan, JUI-F emir in Khar tehsil, was also killed in the blast.

A photo of the good maulana can be seen at the link.

Speaking to the media later at night, KP Inspector General of Police Akhtar Hayat Khan said 10 kilograms of explosives were used in the blast.

He said ball bearings and other explosive materials had been collected from the site.

No one has claimed responsibility for the blast so far.

Posted by:Fred

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Posted by: Skidmark 2023-07-31 06:23

#1 At least 44 killed in Pakistan after explosion at Islamist political rally

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