A suicide bomber struck a political gathering hosted by an Islamist party in northwest Pakistan on Sunday, leaving no less than 54 people dead.
Pakistan's deputy inspector general of police Shaukat Abbas said that 12 of those killed were children under the age of 12, according to CNN.
The attack on Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) party members who had congregated in the town of Khar, Bajaur district, close to the Afghan border, resulted in more than 100 injuries, including 17 critical ones.
There has not yet been a claim of responsibility for the attack, according to local police, who stated that the assailant exploded explosives close to the convention's stage. However, the local ISIS branch has already targeted JUI-F party officials because they view them as infidels.
According to a statement issued by his office, CNN stated that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif "strongly condemned" the explosion.
The statement continued, "An investigation is currently being conducted, and the prime minister's office has asked the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah for a report."
In a statement made public by his press office, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the party's head, expressed "deep sorrow and regret" in the wake of the explosion.
“Peace be upon JUI workers,” the statement added. “The federal and provincial government should provide the best treatment to the injured.”
One witness said more than 500 people were attending the convention when the blast occurred.
“A powerful explosion knocked me unconscious,” Rahim Shah told Pakistani news outlet Dawn.
When he came around there were “people screaming and even shots were fired,” he said, adding there was blood everywhere.
Ahead of elections later this year, Pakistani political parties are starting their campaigns.
