JUI-F leader survives bomb attack in Bajaur

Spokesperson says JUI-F being targeted as some forces were afraid of its popularity

A Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) candidate for the general elections survived a bomb attack on Wednesday when his vehicle was targeted with a remote-controlled device in Bajaur, Express News reported.

The incident occurred in Mamund tehsil of the Malakand division in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, where the JUI-F nominee for PK-19 constituency, Qari Khairullah, was the intended target.

Khairullah’s vehicle was damaged as a result of the blast, but fortunately, the JUI-F leader remained unharmed.

JUI-F spokesperson Aslam Ghauri, while condemning the attack, accused the Ministry of Interior for not fulfilling its responsibilities.

“Why is JUI-F being targeted? Where is the Election Commission and why it is not fulfilling its role,” he questioned.

He said that new ways of rigging were being adopted by undermining the peace and security of the region, adding that some forces were afraid of the JUI-F’s popularity.

Read more: No harm if polls pushed ahead for a few days: Fazl

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack and the motive behind it remains unclear. Further investigation in this regard is underway.

The incident comes days after JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who had also survived an attack on Sunday, stated that the law and order situation in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan was not conducive for electioneering, and suggested that no harm would come if the election date was pushed ahead for a few days.

Talking to the media in Dera Ismail Khan, the JUI-F claimed that shots were fired at his vehicle the other day, adding that it was insignificant to say that he was not in that vehicle when it was hit by bullets.

However, he said that the incident itself was a reflection of the deteriorating law and order situation.