The general inspector of the Bajaur Police, Akhter Hayat Gandapur, stated that those injured in the alleged suicide explosion on Sunday had been rushed to the hospital in the city of Bajaur.
The blast targeted members of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) party.
There has been no initial claim of responsibility for the attack. However, the local ISIS branch has previously attacked JUI-F party leaders as apostates.
The leader of the JUI-F party, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, expressed his “deep sadness and regret” after the explosion, in a statement released by his press office.
“Peace be with the JUI workers,” the statement added. “The federal and provincial government must provide the best treatment for the injured.”
A witness testified that more than 500 people were attending the convention when the explosion occurred.
“A strong explosion knocked me unconscious,” Rahim Shah said.
When he came to, there were “people screaming and even shots were heard,” he said, adding that there was blood everywhere.
