On Sunday, a suicide bomber carried out an attack at a political rally in northwest Pakistan, near the Afghanistan border, which was once a stronghold of militants. The bombing resulted in the tragic loss of at least 44 lives, with nearly 200 people injured. The attack was allegedly intended to weaken Pakistani Islamists, as the district had been cleared of Pakistani Taliban by the military in the past.
The rally was organised by supporters of Fazlur Rehman, a prominent Pakistani cleric and political leader associated with the Jamiat Ulema Islam party, known for its support of regional Islamists. Although Rehman was not present at the event, the gathering drew a large number of attendees, leading organisers to set up additional tents. The attack occurred while officials were announcing the arrival of Abdul Rasheed, another leader of the Jamiat Ulema Islam party, and the explosion took place near the stage where senior party leaders were seated.
According to provincial police, a suicide bomber wearing an explosives vest was responsible for the attack. Initial investigations suggested that the Islamic State group, known to be an enemy of the Afghan Taliban, might be behind the incident, but further investigations were underway.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and devastation as dust and smoke filled the area, leaving many injured and disoriented. One survivor, Adam Khan, shared his harrowing experience of being knocked to the ground and injured in the blast.
The Pakistan Taliban (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack and stated that it was intended to create division and conflict among Islamists. Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Afghan Taliban condemned the violence, emphasising that such heinous acts could not be justified in any way.
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