BAJAUR: Sunday’s suicide bombing at a Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) gathering in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bajaur district geath toll rose to 46 on Monday as the Counter Terrorism Department registered a first information report of the attack.

More than 40 people were killed and over 150 others injured in Khar, a town bordering Afghanistan, when a powerful explosion ripped through the JUI-F convention.

According to eyewitnesses, hundreds of party workers along with local leaders were present at the gathering when the blast occurred.

The bomb went off when a party leader was addressing the convention. JUI-F officials told Dawn that the party’s Khar General Secretary Ziaullah, JUI-F District Press Secretary Mujahid Khan and his son were among the dead. The death toll is feared to increase further.

According to the district administration and Rescue 1122 officials, the explosion occurred at 4pm near the Shandi area, some 2km from Khar.

Dr Naseeb Gul, the district medical superintendent of the Khar hospital, told Dawn.com today that the death toll of the explosion increased to 46 after another injured person succumbed to his wounds.

He said approximately 90 wounded people were brought to the medical facility, adding that 36 bodies had been handed over to the heirs after identification.

Dr Gul said the deceased included five children.

Meanwhile, the KP CTD lodged an FIR against unknown suspects on charges of terrorism, murder, attempted murder and others.

The FIR was registered on the complaint of Station House Officer Kharniaz Muhammad.

It stated that a “suicide attack” ripped through the JUI-F gathering at around 4:10pm on Sunday, claiming the lives of Maulana Ziaullah Jan — the party’s Khar general secretary and others.

Separately, Senior Superintendent (SP) Amjad Khan said investigators had already visited the crime site and gathered evidence to advance with the ongoing probe.

He added that the process of geo-fencing at the blast site had also been completed.

Earlier today, Peshawar Corps Commander Lt Gen Hassan Azhar Hayat visited the District Headquarters Hospital Khar to inquire about the injured persons.

Corps Commander Peshawar Lt Gen Sardar Hassan Azhar Hayat Khan visits hospital in Khar, Bajaur, to meet those injured in the blast. — Photo provided by author

During his visit, Gen Hayat directed the hospital administration to ensure that all victims receive the best possible medical treatment.

Additionally, he also met with the family members of those injured and killed in the explosion and extended his condolences over the incident.

Security officials believed that yesterday’s bombing was a “suicide attack”. A senior police official claimed that the militant Islamic State (Islamic State in Khorasan, or IS-K) group was possibly involved in the attack.

“There is no question about it,” the official said.

“There was no threat of bombing in the district,” security officials said.

It may be noted that reports had earlier indicated the presence of IS-K in the Bajaur district. In June, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) had neutralised three IS-K men in the tribal district, they said.

The blast drew across-the-board condemnations as well. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, former premier Imran Khan, KP Governor Ghulam Ali, caretaker Chief Minister Muhammad Azam Khan and other politicians also condemned the explosion. The CM had also ordered the police to submit a report pertaining to the blast.