43 killed, 130+ injured in suicide bombing; police investigating and have arrested three suspects.
ISLAMABAD: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police reported that their initial investigation pointed towards the terrorist organization Daesh being responsible for the suicide attack at the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl’s (JUI-F) workers’ convention in Bajaur.
A suicide bomber triggered explosives at the rally on Sunday in the former tribal area, which shares a border with Afghanistan, resulting in the tragic death of at least 43 people, and leaving over 130 others injured.
District Police Officer (DPO) Nazir Khan reported the declaration of emergency in the hospitals of Bajaur and nearby regions. Authorities took most of the injured to these hospitals. Furthermore, military helicopters transported the critically injured from Bajaur to hospitals in Peshawar..
The law enforcement authorities are still investigating the whole incident and said, “We are still investigating and gathering information on the Bajaur blast. The Initial probe shows that banned outfit Daesh was involved.”
The police further added they were gathering details about the suicide bomber. And the bomb disposal squad team was collecting evidence from the site. “CTD personnel are busy in collecting other evidence.”
According to DPO Khan they have taken three suspected people into custody.
Since last year, Pakistan has experienced a rise in extremist attacks following the breakdown of a ceasefire between Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Islamabad. Earlier this year, a devastating mosque bombing in Peshawar claimed the lives of more than 100 people.
A recent report submitted to the UN Security Council indicated that the TTP might be attempting to merge with Al Qaeda, with the aim of establishing an umbrella organization to provide shelter for all militant groups operating in South Asia.
Escalating Terror Activities and Recent Developments in Security
For a long time, Pakistan has accused Afghanistan of failing to fulfill its commitment to prevent the use of its soil for terrorism in Islamabad. As a result, cross-border militancy has persisted.
JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has demanded that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and KP Caretaker Chief Minister Azam Khan conduct an investigation into the incident.
The coalition government led by PM Shehbaz considers the targeted party a significant ally, which is making preparations for the national elections scheduled to be held in November.
PM Shehbaz strongly condemned the blast, describing it as an attack on Pakistan’s democratic process. He pledged to ensure that those responsible would face appropriate punishment.
Recently, the top brass of the Pakistan Army asserted that the security of Pakistan faces significant impact due to the presence of sanctuaries and the freedom of movement enjoyed by terrorists from proscribed groups like TTP in Afghanistan.
According to a statistical report released by the independent think tank Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), terror activities in the country have increased by 79% during the first half of 2023.
