By DPA,
Islamabad : A suicide bomber Wednesday detonated his explosives near a rally of a religious-political party in north-western Pakistan, killing at least 10 people and injuring 19, police and health officials said.
The attack took place when the activists from Jamiat Ulma-e-Islam were gathered to welcome their leader Maulana Fazalur Rehman in Swabi district, some 70 km north-west of Islamabad.
“It was a suicide attack. The attacker was between 16 and 17 years old and he was on foot when he carried out the bombing,” Jabar Khan, administrative chief of Swabi district said.
“The target of the attack was the reception set up to welcome Maulana Fazalur Rehman.”
Mohammad Shafique, the head of District Headquarter Hospital, said 10 people had died and 19 were injured.
Rehman said told Geo television that he was unhurt but that six members of his party were killed. He vowed to continue with the plan to hold a rally in Swabi despite the suicide attack.
Rehman is believed to be a significant pro-Taliban political leader from the Deobandi Islamic school of thought, which most of the militant groups in Pakistan follow.
But some ultra-extremist Taliban groups are willing to target anyone who has been the part of the government. Rehman’s party recently pulled out from the coalition government led by secular Pakistan Peoples Party.