A political gathering in northwestern Pakistan was the target of a deadly suicide bombing on Sunday, resulting in at least 44 fatalities, according to local law enforcement. The attack, which also left over 100 people injured, 17 of them critically, was aimed at members of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) who had convened in the town of Khar, Bajaur district, near the Afghanistan border.
The suicide bomber detonated explosives in close proximity to the convention’s stage, police reported. While no group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, the local ISIS branch has a history of targeting the party leaders, whom they view as apostates.
The bombing was met with strong condemnation from Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. His office released a statement expressing his denouncement of the attack. An investigation into the incident has been launched.
Eyewitness accounts paint a grim picture of the incident. One attendee, Rahim Shah, reported to Al Jazeera that over 500 people were present at the convention when the explosion occurred. Shah, who was knocked unconscious by the blast, described a scene of chaos and panic when he regained consciousness, with people screaming and shots being fired amidst the bloodshed.
The attack comes as Pakistani political parties are gearing up for elections scheduled for later this year. The incident underscores the volatile security situation in the country, particularly in regions close to the Afghanistan border.