BAJAUR:A devastating blast at a JUI-F workers’ convention in Khar, the capital area of Bajaur, on Sunday afternoon resulted in the tragic loss of at least 35 lives, while more than 100 people were left injured.
The explosion occurred in front of the NADRA office in the Sandiaye area of Khar, causing chaos and prompting an immediate response from rescue teams who rushed the injured to the District Headquarter Hospital Khar, where emergency has been declared.
The hospital sources said that they received at least 35 dead bodies including JUI-F Khar’s head Molana Ziaullah Jan and over 100 others injured. Several of the injured are currently in critical condition, said sources.
It was learnt that nearly 400 people were attending the JUI-F workers convention on Shanday Morr near NADRA office. Law enforcement agencies cordoned off the area.
Hajji Ghulam Ali, Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, also confirmed the deaths in the bomb explosion.
JUI-F response
Hafiz Hamdullah, a senior leader of JUI-F, expressed his deep concern and urged the government to take urgent measures for the medical care of the injured victims.
He strongly condemned the attack, emphasizing that this act of violence cannot be justified as jihad; rather, it is a heinous act of terrorism.
“It is not the first blast that strikes JUI-F workers I excused myself from attending the convention due to my personnel meeting,” he said.
Hamdullah raised questions about the performance of state institutions, as multiple blasts have occurred in the past in Bajaur. He called for a thorough judicial inquiry into the incident to uncover the truth behind the attack.
Local leadership of JUI-F were present in the convention and injured were shifted to the local hospital.
The Police and law enforcement agencies have yet to ascertain the nature of the blast, as whether it was a planted bomb blast or a suicide blast.
Meanwhile, the security personnel cordoned off the area and a search and clearance operation is underway.
Bajaur is 85.39 miles away from provincial metropolis Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
