39 Killed, Over 100 Wounded In Bomb Blast At Political Gathering In Pakistan

Peshawar: At least 39 people were killed and more than 100 wounded on Sunday following a bomb blast at a political gathering of a radical Islamic party at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, in north-west Pakistan.

More than 400 members and supporters of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F (JUI-F) party had gathered under a tent in Khar town, near the border with Afghanistan when the blast took place.

“I can confirm that there are 39 dead bodies in the hospital, with 123 wounded that includes 17 patients in serious condition,” AFP quoted Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health minister Riaz Anwar as saying.

Pictures and videos from the blast site circulating on social media showed bodies strewn all over the place, with volunteers carrying blood-soaked victims to ambulances.

Though no group has yet claimed responsibility for the ghastly attack, it could be the local chapter of ISIS group, which recently carried out attacks against JUI-F. JUI-F has been accused of hypocrisy, for being a religious Islamic group that has supported successive governments and the military.