AT LEAST 44 people have been killed in a blast at a political rally in Pakistan.
The fatal explosion ripped through the northwestern district of Bajur on Sunday – leaving hundreds injured, local reports said.
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At least 44 people have been killed in an explosion in PakistanCredit: AP
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More than 200 people were also injured and taken to nearby hospitalsCredit: Getty
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Footage showed the moment the bomb exploded, injuring hundreds of supportersCredit: Twitter/ArifMehmoodPAK
About 200 people were wounded when the suspected suicide bombing tore through a rally of supporters of hard-line cleric and political leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
Senior police officer Nazir Khan said the workers’ convention of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam party had taken place on the outskirts of Khar, which borders Afghanistan.
One of the dead was a local leader of Mr Rehman’s party, Maulana Ziaullah.
Mr Rehman himself was not in attendance at the rally, party officials said.
Some of the injured have been taken to the city’s main hospital in critical condition, which has now declared a health emergency at the facilities.
Others were transferred to Peshawar, the provincial capital located three hours from the site of the blast, due to the seriousness of their wounds.
Pictures from the scene also showed people being put into ambulances and the blast area being cordoned off.
Cops have said the death toll is expected to increase.
Rehman is considered to be a pro-Taliban cleric and his political party is part of the coalition government in Islamabad, AlJazeera reports.
His party is part of Pakistan’s coalition government and he also leads the Pakistan Democratic Movement, which united opposition parties against the then-prime minister Imran Khan.
Meetings are being organised across the country to mobilise supporters for the coming elections, due to be held by October.
Nobody has immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
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An injured man receives treatment following the blastCredit: EPA
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Another activist is rushed to hospitalCredit: Getty
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The city’s main hospital declared a health emergency at its facilitiesCredit: AP
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The blast took place during a political rally in the northwestern district of BajurCredit: EPA
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The bomb ripped through supporters of political leader Maulana Fazlur RehmanCredit: EPA
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