Death toll from Kurram election rally’s blast rises to 24

Death toll from a deadly bomb attack on an election rally in Kurram agency’s tribal region has reached 24, hospital sources said Tuesday.

Over 70 people were injured in a blast at the election rally of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) candidates in the central Kurram tribal Agency on Monday, and several wounded died in hospital.

A JUI-F candidate Munir Orakzai who was the target escaped unhurt. His two guards and six of his close relatives were also injured in the blast at a Madrassa. Munir Orakzai was the former member of the parliament.

Pakistani Taliban had claimed responsibility.

The TTP spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan however clarified that the attack on Munir Orakzai was not due to his current political affiliation with JUI-F.

“We attacked him because of the crimes he committed against Islam and Mujahideen,” the TTP spokesman, Ehsanllah Ehsan said in a statement. The statement was also emailed to The Express Tribune.

Munir Orakzai escaped unhurt in the attack, which killed nearly 15 people and injured dozens others.

“He (Orakzai) handed over dozens of Arab Mujahideen to America, now suffering in Gitmo. He worked with full zeal with ANP,MQM and PPP for last five years in shedding blood of innocent tribesmen,” the TTP spokesman said.

He said Taliban will never forgive him nor leave him alive.

He also said that Hafiz Dolat Khan alias Hafiz Ahmed has been appointed as TTP chief for Kurram Agency by the Taliban Shura or council, adding the attack on Munir Orakzai was his first achievement.

Kurram Agency Political Agent Riaz Mahsud said that the blast was caused by an IED. He said JUI-F candidates from Kurram Agency, Munir Orakzai and Maulana Ainuddin Shakir, were addressing the gathering at the seminary in Sewak village in the Parachamkani area when the remote-controlled explosive device went off. He added that 10 kilo explosives were used in the blast.

The President, the Prime Minister and JUI-F chief, Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman condemned the bast.

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Posted by Tahir Khan on May 7 2013. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.