Disturbing videos from the Bajaur rally are going viral on social media. The videos show the exact moment the suicide attack took place at Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl’s (JUI-F) workers’ convention in Bajaur.
At least 46 people were killed and over 100 were injured. An emergency was declared in the hospitals of Bajaur and adjoining areas where most of the injured were taken
According to the details, the explosion took place at 4 pm. More than 400 JUI-F members and supporters gathered under a tent in the town of Khar, near the border with Afghanistan.
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The video which is doing the rounds on social media was shot just moments before the blast when the party convention of Jamiat Ulema Islam was going on.
The videos show JUI-F leaders making their speeches when the bomb went off, after which panic-stricken people began screaming and running for cover.
I edited the video to delete some of the gore. But it’s still graphic content ⚠️. The time when the explosion took place in Bajaur Tribal District during the JUI-F convention. pic.twitter.com/xebsYemuF7
— Iftikhar Firdous (@IftikharFirdous) July 30, 2023
Deeply grieved by barbaric act of terrorism at Bajaur JUI(F) gathering,in which 40 precious lives were lost & hundreds injured.This act must have been perpetrated from Afg,with linkages from Eastern neighbor?
May Allah Bless souls of the deceased & give recovery to injured.Ameen pic.twitter.com/vIid3kAPPs— SHAFAAT SHAH (@INFANTRY28) July 30, 2023
The incident is being strongly condemned. JUI-F supremo Maulana Fazlur Rehman expressed sorrow over the bomb explosion and demanded the prime minister and caretaker KP chief minister conduct a high-level inquiry.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the Bajaur bomb blast at the JUI-F workers convention and vowed that the culprits will be brought to justice and penalised. President Dr Arif Alvi condemned the Bajaur blast and expressed sorrow over the loss of precious lives.
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. The uptick in terror activities has sparked alarm in Pakistan while triggering international concern.
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The United States, Saudi Arabia, and Iran have strongly condemned the Bajaur suicide bombing. In a condolence statement issued by the US embassy, a US spokesman extended condolences to the families of the victims of the Bajaur blast.
Saudi Arabia and Iran have also condemned the attack on the JUI-F rally in Bajaur. Both countries in their statements said terrorism in every form is punishable and vowed to continue supporting the people and the government of Pakistan.