Eleven people were killed and over 40 injured when a bomb went off near an election office of the Awami National Party here on Saturday, the latest in a string of attacks by the Taliban on secular political parties ahead of Pakistan’s general election.
The bomb exploded just as senior ANP leader Bashir Jan arrived in Mominabad area to address an election meeting.
Jan, who has been targeted by the Taliban several times, escaped unhurt though his car was damaged by the blast.
Police officials and ANP leaders said 11 people were killed and more than 40 injured. Six children were among the wounded.
The condition of several of the injured was described by ANP leaders as critical.
The banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack. Taliban spokesman Ihsanullah Ihsan phoned media groups and said his group would continue to target the ANP, Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Pakistan People’s Party for their secular and liberal policies.
“The ANP has tried to introduce infidel views in Pakistan. They will pay the price for this,” Ihsan said.
Over the past few days, the Taliban have bombed two election offices of the MQM in Karachi. Ten people were killed and dozens injured in these attacks.
The target of tonight’s blast was Bashir Jan, the secretary general for ANP’s Sindh chapter who had earlier in the day escaped a grenade attack. “I had reached close to the office but was in my car when the blast took place. My car went up in the air due to the intensity of the blast. But I escaped unhurt,” Jan told Metro news channel.
Police said the blast was apparently caused by a bomb planted in a motorcycle. Ball bearings were found at the site where the blast created a crater.
Doctors at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital said they had received around 20 injured people and the condition of some of them was critical.
–PTI