Islamabad : A suicide bomber blew himself up outside a prayer ground in northwest Pakistan today, killing a political leader and his bodyguard and injuring seven others, police said.
The bomber struck as former nazim (mayor) Hanif Jadoon was leaving the prayer ground after offering Eid-ul-Azha prayers. Jadoon and his bodyguard were killed instantly, police officials said.
Jadoon's son was among the seven injured persons. The wounded were taken to a nearby hospital. The attack occurred as millions of people were celebrating the Eid-ul-Azha festival.
The government had put in place strict security arrangements across Pakistan to prevent terrorist attacks.
No group claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing though such attacks are usually blamed on the Pakistani Taliban. Taliban suicide bombers have targeted Eid congregations in the past too.
In December 2007, former federal minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao had a narrow escape when a suicide bomber blew himself up during Eid prayers in Charsadda, killing over 50 people and injuring over 100.
Media reports said Jadoon was a leader of the secular Awami National Party that rules the northwestern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.
Dozens of ANP workers and leaders have been killed in attacks by the Taliban in the past few years.
The bomber struck as former nazim (mayor) Hanif Jadoon was leaving the prayer ground after offering Eid-ul-Azha prayers. Jadoon and his bodyguard were killed instantly, police officials said.
Jadoon's son was among the seven injured persons. The wounded were taken to a nearby hospital. The attack occurred as millions of people were celebrating the Eid-ul-Azha festival.
No group claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing though such attacks are usually blamed on the Pakistani Taliban. Taliban suicide bombers have targeted Eid congregations in the past too.
Advertisement
Media reports said Jadoon was a leader of the secular Awami National Party that rules the northwestern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Mamata Banerjee's Sunday Ultimatum To CBI For Death Penalty In Rape-Murder How Extreme Weather Is Leading To Rise In Child Marriages In Pakistan "Prove With Pics Crime Scene Intact": Court To Bengal Over Hospital Vandalism Egyptian Ship Arrested At Paradip Port In Odisha For Outstanding Debt Will Back Any Candidate Announced As Chief Minister Face: Uddhav Thackeray Trump, Musk, And The Importance Of 'Exaggeration' In Storytelling Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.