ANP leader among 12 killed in blast
SIX KEY POLITICIANS — INCLUDING IMRAN KHAN — FACE THREATS, TOP OFFICIAL SAYS
Suspected suicide bomber targets election rally in Yakatoot area of Peshawar |
At least 12 people including Awami National Party (ANP) leader Haroon Bilour were killed in a suspected suicide blast which targeted an election gathering of ANP in Yakatoot area of Peshawar last night, a senior police official said.
Peshawar Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Qazi Jameel said that more than 30 people were injured in the explosion, who have been moved to Lady Reading Hospital.
The blast took place when Haroon Bilour, who was contesting elections from PK-78 constituency, arrived at the site where the ANP workers had gathered for a corner meeting. Bilour suffered serious injuries and was shifted to the hospital where he succumbed to his wounds.
The police officer did not confirm the nature of the blast, however, a local ANP leader said that a suicide bomber blew himself when he entered the compound where the meeting was being held.
The rescue teams and law enforcement agencies have reached the site of the blast. Police and bomb disposal officials are collecting evidence from the site of the blast and have started an investigation into the incident.
Haroon Bilour was the son of senior ANP leader Bashir Ahmed Bilour who was killed when a Pakistani Taliban bomber blew himself up in a party meeting in Peshawar in 2012.
Earlier yesterday, an official at the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta) has warned that Pakistan’s key political leaders are facing security threats from extremists ahead of upcoming elections.
Briefing the Senate Standing Committee on the Interior, Nacta director Obaid Farooq warned about the possible terror attempts during the election period on key politicians, including Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf chief Imran Khan, ANP leaders Asfandyar Wali and Ameer Haider Hoti, Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) chief Aftab Khan Sherpao, Jamiat Ulemae-Islam-Fazl leader Akram Khan Durrani as well as the top leadership of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
There have been reports of a total of 12 threats, six of which were targets towards individuals, the official informed the committee.
Expressing concerns over the threats, committee chairman Rahman Malek directed the Ministry of Interior to provide high-level security to the political party leaders and all those facing threats.
Possible attacks
He also asked the Interior Ministry to share the security measures and plans about security for heads of political parties, voters, candidates and polling vicinities with the committee.