Suicide Attack Kills 20 At Political Party Rally In Pakistan
The Awami National Party, is a secular and leftist Pashtun nationalist political party in Pakistan. The party was founded by Abdul Wali Khan
Police reported twenty killed in a political rally in Pakistan's northwestern city of Peshawar after a suicide bomber blew himself up.
An Awami National Party (ANP) leader and eleven supporters have been killed in a suicide attack at a rally in wake of July 25 elections in Pakistan's Peshawar, Reuters reported citing city police chief Jamil Qazi.
The police also reported 50 injured, adding that no one had immediately claimed the responsibility for the suicide attack.
Another senior leader of the ANP party Bashir Bilour was killed in a suicide bombing during a meeting ahead of 2013 election in Pakistan. The victim of the Tuesday's attack was son Haroon Bilour.
Peshawar lawyers went on strike on Wednesday to protest and mourn the death of Haroon, who was also a barrister. Local traders also announced a strike and mourners thronged to Bilour's residence to offer condolences.
Bilour was one of the ANP's election candidates and belonged to an influential political family in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, of which Peshawar is the capital.
His father Bashir Bilour, one of the ANP's top leaders, was also killed by a suicide bomber in 2012.
Police said the bomber struck when Bilour was about to address some 200 supporters.
Mohammad Khorasani, spokesman for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan militant group, claimed the responsibility for the attack.
"Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan's mujahid (holy fighter) Abdul Karim last night carried out a suicide attack on important ANP leader Haroon Bilour in which he has been killed," Khorasani said in a statement.
He said the militants "have already declared a war" on the ANP and called on the public to keep away from them, "or you will be responsible for your own loss".
Peshawar city is considered a gateway to Pakistan's troubled semi-autonomous tribal regions, where many militant groups -- including al Qaeda -- operated until the government launched operations to oust them.
Militants have targeted politicians, religious gatherings, security forces and even schools in Peshawar.
But security across Pakistan, including in Peshawar, has dramatically improved since government and military operations in recent years.
Analysts warn however that Pakistan has yet to tackle the root causes of extremism.
Bilour was one of the ANP's election candidates and belonged to an influential political family in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, of which Peshawar is the capital.
His father Bashir Bilour, one of the ANP's top leaders, was also killed by a suicide bomber in 2012.
Police said the bomber struck when Bilour was about to address some 200 supporters.
Mohammad Khorasani, spokesman for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan militant group, claimed the responsibility for the attack.
"Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan's mujahid (holy fighter) Abdul Karim last night carried out a suicide attack on important ANP leader Haroon Bilour in which he has been killed," Khorasani said in a statement.
He said the militants "have already declared a war" on the ANP and called on the public to keep away from them, "or you will be responsible for your own loss".
Peshawar city is considered a gateway to Pakistan's troubled semi-autonomous tribal regions, where many militant groups -- including al Qaeda -- operated until the government launched operations to oust them.
Militants have targeted politicians, religious gatherings, security forces and even schools in Peshawar.
But security across Pakistan, including in Peshawar, has dramatically improved since government and military operations in recent years.
Analysts warn however that Pakistan has yet to tackle the root causes of extremism.
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