Blast in election rally martyrs PTI's Ikramullah Gandapur
The rescue teams have arrived at the scene and shifted the injured to nearby hospitals.
DERA ISMAIL KHAN (Dunya News) – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate in PK-99 Sardar Ikramullah Gandapur has embraced martyrdom while several injured as a blast hit his election rally in Dera Ismail Khan’s Kulachi area today (Sunday).
Getting information about the mishap, the rescue teams arrived at the scene and shifted the injured to nearby hospitals for medical treatment.
He "succumbed to his injuries in Combined Military Hospital after a suicide bomber blew himself up near his Land Cruiser (SUV) this morning," district police chief Zaheer Afridi told AFP.
Faraz Mughul, Gandapur s assistant, confirmed the casualties.
"Our hearts weep for him and his family and we pray for both," the PTI said in a statement.
The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in a message sent to the media.
The bombing is the latest in a number of attacks targeting politicians campaigning ahead of the national polls on July 25.
Earlier, a suicide blast ripped through a crowd at a political rally in Mastung, killing 149 including younger brother of former Balochistan chief minister Aslam Raisani and Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) candidate, Nawabzada Siraj Raisani.
Separately, at least four people were killed and 39 injured when a bomb hidden inside a motorcycle detonated close to another politician’s convoy in Bannu, near the border with Afghanistan.
The politician -- Akram Khan Durrani, a candidate of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) party -- survived, police said. No group has yet claimed responsibility for that attack.
On Tuesday, a bomb claimed by the Taliban targeted a rally by the Awami National Party (ANP) in the city of Peshawar. Local ANP leader Haroon Bilour was among the 22 killed.
With inputs from AFP
