Suicide bombing kills at least 54 people at political rally in Pakistan
A massive suicide bombing ripped through a political rally in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Sunday, killing at least 54 people and injuring nearly 200 others. The attack targeted a gathering of the conservative Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) party, led by hard-line cleric and politician Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who is known for his pro-Taliban stance and links to hardline political Islam. Rehman was not present at the rally, which was held under a large tent near a market in Bajaur, a former tribal area that borders Afghanistan.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing, but police said their initial investigation suggested that the Islamic State group's regional affiliate could be behind the attack. The Islamic State group operates across the border in Afghanistan and has previously targeted Pakistani security forces and civilians. The bombing came hours before the arrival of Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng in Islamabad, where he was to participate in an event to mark a decade of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a multi-billion dollar infrastructure project that has boosted ties between the two countries.
The victims of the bombing were buried in Bajaur on Monday, as condolences poured in from across the country. Prime Minister Imran Khan condemned the attack and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice. He also announced financial compensation for the families of the deceased and the injured. President Arif Alvi expressed his grief and sorrow over the loss of lives and prayed for the speedy recovery of the wounded. He said that such cowardly acts of terrorism could not deter the resolve of the nation to fight against extremism and violence.
The JUI-F is one of the main opposition parties in Pakistan and has been critical of Khan's government and its policies. The party has also opposed CPEC, claiming that it would harm the interests of the local people and damage the environment. The party has a strong base in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and other parts of the country where religious conservatism is prevalent. The party's leader, Rehman, has long supported the Taliban government in Afghanistan and has advocated for peace talks with the Pakistani Taliban, who have waged a bloody insurgency against Islamabad since 2007.
The bombing was one of the deadliest attacks on a political gathering in Pakistan's history and raised concerns over the security situation ahead of the parliamentary elections, expected to be held later this year. Pakistan has witnessed a resurgence of militant violence since last year, when a ceasefire between the Pakistani Taliban and the government broke down. However, most of the recent attacks have been on security forces and installations, rather than political events. The last major attack on a political rally occurred in 2018, when a suicide bomber killed 149 people at an election campaign event in Balochistan province.
Sources:
(1) Pakistan: Death toll in suicide bombing at political rally in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bajaur rises to 54. https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/world/pakistan-blast-latest-death-toll-updates-khyber-pakhtunkhwa-suicide-bomber-killed-over-50-jamiat-ulema-e-islam-fazl-juif-workers-afghanistan-shehbaz-2023-07-31-884041.
(2) At Least 54 Dead After Suicide Bombing Rips Through Political Rally in Pakistan. https://time.com/6299489/suicide-bomb-pakistan/.
(3) ISIS behind suicide bombing at Pakistan political rally that killed 44: Police. https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/isis-behind-suicide-bombing-at-pakistan-political-rally-that-killed-44-police-101690780244783.html.
(4) Dozens killed in suicide bombing at Pakistan political rally. https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/pakistan-suicide-bombing-1.6922547.
(5) Suicide bombing kills at least 54 people at political rally in Pakistan .... https://globalnews.ca/news/9866826/pakistan-suicide-bombing-deaths/.
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