A bomb tore through a Pakistan political rally on Monday, killing 14 people and wounding 56 in one of the deadliest attacks of the campaign for Pakistan’s historic elections on Saturday.
The killings bring to 83 the number of people killed in such attacks since April 11, according to an AFP tally.
The device targeted the right-wing Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI), a religious party in the outgoing government coalition. It exploded in Kurram, part of Pakistan’s Taliban-infested tribal belt on the Afghan border.
“At least 14 people have been confirmed dead and 56 injured,” Riaz Khan, the top administrative official in Kurram, said.
“I fear the death toll could rise further because several of the injured are in a critical condition,” he added.
A hospital doctor earlier confirmed four dead.
Khan said the bomb was planted inside the building that was the venue for the rally of two national assembly candidates representing the JUI faction led by cleric Fazul-ur-Rehman.