PESHAWAR: The number of people killed in the suicide attack at the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) workers’ convention in Bajaur increased to 54 after more victims of the explosion died on Monday, according to officials. When a suicide bomber detonated explosives at the JUI-F meeting on Sunday evening, a horrific explosion tore through the former tribal region of Bajaur district’s Khar, bordering Afghanistan, killing about 40 people there and injuring over 100 others. According to the police, the early investigation indicated that the terrorist group Daesh was responsible for the suicide attack.
According to Shokat Abbas, additional inspector general for the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), 83 injured persons are currently receiving medical care at various hospitals. The convention started at 2pm, and the explosion happened at 4:10pm, according to the person providing the inquiry update. He said that materials involved in the production of the explosives, such as ball bearings, had been discovered at the explosion site. Abbas added that the terrorist organisation responsible for the attack had been found and that it had specifically targeted a “specific” individual at the meeting.
He said that the initial probe had led the CTD to close to the attack’s perpetrators.
Abbas said that many pieces of evidence have been found at the site of the explosion, and forensic reports are being expected soon.
He confirmed that 10-12kg of explosives were used in the blast.
Meanwhile, the KP CTD registered an FIR against unknown suspects on charges of terrorism, murder, attempted murder and others, on behalf of Khar Station House Officer Niaz Mohammad.
Separately, CTD’s Bajaur Senior Superintendent (SP) Amjad Khan said investigators visited the crime scene and gathered evidence to further the ongoing investigations.
He said that statements of the injured had been recorded while the process of geo-fencing at the site of the explosion had also been completed.
The United States and Saudi Arabia condemned the deadly suicide blast, with Russia condoling the affected families.
Pakistan has seen a resurgence of attacks by extremists since last year when a ceasefire between the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Islamabad broke down. A mosque bombing in Peshawar killed over 100 people earlier this year.
A report submitted to the UN Security Council recently mentioned that the TTP might be seeking a merger with Al Qaeda to create an umbrella organisation that shelters all militant groups operating in South Asia.
Pakistan has long blamed Afghanistan for not living up to its commitment to ensuring that its soil is not used for terrorism in Islamabad, but cross-border militancy continues.
JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman demanded that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and KP Caretaker Chief Minister Azam Khan investigate the incident.
